Family Sues Healthcare Facility Over Son’s Wrongful Death
October 29, 2019
A 29-year-old patient who suffered from schizophrenia apparently died of starvation because he refused to eat while he was being treated at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Parsippany, New Jersey. The patient’s mother is filing a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit against the state of New Jersey and Morristown Medical Center, the hospital to which the patient was admitted the night before he passed away.
The patient was previously living at home when he suffered a psychotic episode, prompting his mother to call 911 for help. He was subsequently admitted to the Greystone facility. According to the patient’s mother, Greystone did not notify her that he had stopped eating while he was being treated there. Hospital personnel said that they tried in vain to persuade the patient to sign the HIPPA form that would have given the facility the legal right to reveal his medical information to her. She was unaware her son had stopped eating until after his death, at which point she gained access to his medical records.
The deceased patient’s mother maintains that the hospital had a responsibility to provide adequate nursing care, which included proper nourishment. Despite the fact that the patient was actively psychotic and refused to eat, the hospital apparently failed to pursue alternate methods of nourishment. The patient’s mother also asserted that she would have taken him to a different facility had she known he was refusing to eat, and that the hospital was not taking proactive steps to ensure he was fed.
Damages for Medical Malpractice Claims
Laws governing medical malpractice vary from state to state. If a deceased’s family wishes to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit in the state of Maryland, there are two types of damages that they can obtain:
- Economic Damages: This includes past and future medical bills and lost wages. There is no cap on economic damages.
- Noneconomic Damages: This includes pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement, and loss of consortium. Maryland limits on the amount of noneconomic damages that surviving family members will receive.
Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Assist Victims of Medical Negligence
Patients with schizophrenia and other mental health conditions may be neglected by healthcare professionals, particularly if a facility is understaffed or staff is not sufficiently trained. If you lost a loved one due to medical negligence, it is in your best interest to contact the highly skilled Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton as soon as possible. We will not stop fighting for you until justice has been served. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
From our offices in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, we serve victims of medical malpractice throughout Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.
