Recent lawsuits against healthcare providers spotlight serious concerns over medical malpractice and negligence, centering on tragic incidents where inadequate care has led to preventable deaths. Each case, distinct yet interconnected, raises poignant questions about the responsibilities of medical institutions and the systems meant to protect patients.
One such case emerged when civil rights attorney Ben Crump filed a lawsuit against Vista Medical Center East following the death of Chelsea Adolphus, who, at 28, tragically perished after being trapped on the roof of the facility for nearly seven hours. On January 23, 2024, Adolphus left her hospital room at approximately 2 AM. Somehow making her way to the rooftop, she remained there, dressed only in her hospital gown, until about 8:45 AM. Given the freezing temperatures, which felt as low as ten degrees, her body temperature plummeted to 50 degrees. When hospital staff finally discovered her, they rushed her to the emergency department, but attempts to revive her failed. The preliminary cause of death was determined to be hypothermia.
Authorities are still investigating how Adolphus accessed the roof and the alarming delay before her absence was noted. Crump, who expressed his outrage on social media, stated, “A hospital — a place meant for healing — became Chelsea’s death trap.” He described the situation as “unacceptable negligence” and claimed the hospital must be held accountable for her death. Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek voiced her concerns about the lack of safety measures at the hospital, citing previous instances of insufficient care.
Adding to the scrutiny, Vista Medical Center’s CEO Kevin M. Spiegel defended the institution's practices, dismissing Banek’s claims as unfounded. Nevertheless, the lawsuit accuses the hospital of negligence and medical malpractice, with Crump vowing to seek justice for Adolphus.
Another case gaining attention involves Sara Jones, who filed suit against University Health, formerly Truman Medical Center, over the death of her husband, Dan Jones. Admitted for health issues, he developed severe pressure ulcers exacerbated by inadequate staff care. The lawsuit argues the hospital failed to monitor or care for his developing ulcer, which became stage four and resistant to antibiotics before his death on December 19, 2022. The documentation asserts nursing staff neglected to assess Jones' risk for pressure injuries adequately and did not reposition him, which is standard practice for bedridden patients.
Jones’ condition deteriorated due to the lack of attention, and Sara Jones contends this negligence is part of broader systemic failures at the facility, linking it to dangerous cost-cutting measures and understaffing due to staffing issues. The lawsuit alleges, “The Facility did not have an adequate number of staff working daily at the Facility to meet Resident’s needs.” University Health has yet to comment formally on the lawsuit since it has not been served, but it maintains a commitment to quality care.
The most troubling claim, though, resides within the pharmaceutical aspect of patient care. The family of Cole Schmidtknecht, who died from complications of asthma, has taken legal action against Walgreens and the pharmacy benefit manager UnitedHealth Group after discovering the cost of his asthma medication soared from $66 to $539 for no apparent reason. After successfully managing his condition with Advair Diskus, Schmidtknecht was blindsided on January 10, 2024, when he was notified his prescription would no longer be covered under his insurance.
Schmidtknecht left Walgreens without his medication, relying on an old emergency inhaler, which proved fatal. Five days after the shocking price increase, he suffered from a severe asthma attack and went unresponsive en route to the emergency room. Tragically, he was declared dead on January 21, 2024, and the lawsuit alleges Walgreens and OptumRx directly contributed to his death through negligence and profiteering strategies, which the family’s attorney described as “deplorable.”
These lawsuits not only highlight individual tragedies but also reflect systemic flaws within the healthcare and pharmaceutical systems—neglect, inadequate care, and corporate greed have dire consequences. The mounting evidence against various institutions raises urgent questions about accountability and the integrity of patient care standards.
While the stories of Chelsea Adolphus, Dan Jones, and Cole Schmidtknecht tragically stand alone, they collectively challenge the systems meant to protect individuals when they are most vulnerable. Advocates like Ben Crump continue to call for reform and justice, emphasizing the need for changes within the healthcare industry to prevent such heartbreaking incidents from happening again.