Family Sues Hospital After Daughter's Death Went Unreported for a Year
Bizarre/Strange
Friday 23rd, August 2024
A family in California is suing Mercy San Juan Medical Center near Sacramento after discovering their daughter, Jessie Marie Peterson, had died while in the hospital’s care, despite being told she had been discharged. The tragic revelation came a year after Jessie’s death when her decomposed body was finally located in a morgue.
Jessie Peterson, 31, who had Type 1 diabetes, was admitted to the hospital on the 6th of April 2023. According to a lawsuit filed by her family, Jessie's mother, Ginger Congi, contacted the hospital shortly after her admission but was informed that Jessie had been discharged. Unaware of her true fate, the family believed she was missing and filed a missing person's report with the local sheriff’s department. They also distributed notices in an effort to locate her.
However, on the 12th of April 2024, the Sacramento County Detective's Office notified the family that Jessie had been deceased since the day she was admitted to the hospital. Her body had been transferred to an off site cold storage unit and remained there for a year.
The hospital records, which were later obtained by the family, showed that a death certificate was not completed until a year after Jessie’s death. The certificate listed the cause of death as cardiopulmonary arrest. The family also claimed that Jessie's body had decomposed to such an extent that an open casket funeral was not possible, and a post-mortem examination could not determine whether medical malpractice contributed to her death.
In the lawsuit, the family alleges that the hospital was negligent in its handling of Jessie's case. They are seeking more than €4.7 million in damages, accusing the hospital of failing to issue a timely death certificate, notify Jessie's next of kin, allow an autopsy, and properly manage her remains.
"Defendants' failure to issue a timely certificate of death, failure to notify Jessie's next of kin, failure to allow an autopsy, and mishandling of Jessie's remains [was] negligent, careless, and heartless", the lawsuit states.
Speaking to KCRA, the NBC affiliate TV station in Sacramento, Ms Congi said her daughter "loved people... she loved her sisters" and expressed her belief that the hospital lacked "compassion" in its handling of the situation.
Dignity Health, the operator of the hospital, responded with a brief statement, "We extend our deepest sympathies to the family at this difficult time. We are unable to comment on pending litigation".
The family’s lawsuit has brought attention to the hospital's practices and raised serious concerns about patient care and communication within the facility. The case is expected to proceed through the courts as the family seeks justice for Jessie.
Jessie Peterson, 31, who had Type 1 diabetes, was admitted to the hospital on the 6th of April 2023. According to a lawsuit filed by her family, Jessie's mother, Ginger Congi, contacted the hospital shortly after her admission but was informed that Jessie had been discharged. Unaware of her true fate, the family believed she was missing and filed a missing person's report with the local sheriff’s department. They also distributed notices in an effort to locate her.
However, on the 12th of April 2024, the Sacramento County Detective's Office notified the family that Jessie had been deceased since the day she was admitted to the hospital. Her body had been transferred to an off site cold storage unit and remained there for a year.
The hospital records, which were later obtained by the family, showed that a death certificate was not completed until a year after Jessie’s death. The certificate listed the cause of death as cardiopulmonary arrest. The family also claimed that Jessie's body had decomposed to such an extent that an open casket funeral was not possible, and a post-mortem examination could not determine whether medical malpractice contributed to her death.
In the lawsuit, the family alleges that the hospital was negligent in its handling of Jessie's case. They are seeking more than €4.7 million in damages, accusing the hospital of failing to issue a timely death certificate, notify Jessie's next of kin, allow an autopsy, and properly manage her remains.
"Defendants' failure to issue a timely certificate of death, failure to notify Jessie's next of kin, failure to allow an autopsy, and mishandling of Jessie's remains [was] negligent, careless, and heartless", the lawsuit states.
Speaking to KCRA, the NBC affiliate TV station in Sacramento, Ms Congi said her daughter "loved people... she loved her sisters" and expressed her belief that the hospital lacked "compassion" in its handling of the situation.
Dignity Health, the operator of the hospital, responded with a brief statement, "We extend our deepest sympathies to the family at this difficult time. We are unable to comment on pending litigation".
The family’s lawsuit has brought attention to the hospital's practices and raised serious concerns about patient care and communication within the facility. The case is expected to proceed through the courts as the family seeks justice for Jessie.
