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March 11, 2010
Living patient confused with dead one
By QMI Agency
A New York hospital could face a malpractice suit after it allegedly confused a living patient with a dead one. In a press release issued Thursday, personal injury lawyer David Perecman said the 93-year-old woman went to Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center because she was having trouble breathing. Her relatives called to ask how she was doing, but a hospital employee surprised them by saying she had died, he said. The family discovered the mistake when they arrived at the hospital to make funeral arrangements. The woman's great-granddaughter went to touch the "dead" woman and was shocked when her great-grandmother moved, the lawyer claims. Perecman said although it's a case of mistaken identity, the family was traumatized and is considering suing. Calls to the hospital for comment weren't immediately returned. |