Officials at a Northern California hospital reportedly informed the family of a 31-year-old woman that she had checked out.
In reality, she had died and her body was kept in cold storage for nearly a year, according to a civil lawsuit filed by her loved ones.
Admitted for Type 1 Diabetes
Jessie Marie Peterson, was a patient admitted to Mercy San Juan Medical Center on April 6 last year.
She was admitted for care due to Type 1 diabetes.
Family Misled About Peterson’s Discharge
The lawsuit, filed this month in Sacramento County Superior Court, alleges that shortly after Peterson’s admission, her mother, Ginger Congi, called the hospital for an update.
She was informed that her daughter had been discharged.
Family Takes Action After Discharge Miscommunication
The family then filed a missing person’s report with the county sheriff’s department and posted notices around town.
They also interviewed local homeless individuals in hopes of finding Peterson.
Extensive Search
According to the lawsuit, “The family searched and searched for Jessie”
“It was not until April 12, 2024, that the Sacramento County Detective’s Office notified Jessie’s family that she was found deceased at Mercy San Juan hospital,” said plaintiffs’ attorney Marc Greenberg.
Body Decomposed Beyond Recognition
The lawsuit further reveals that by the time Peterson’s family was notified, her body had decomposed significantly.
As a result, an open casket funeral was not possible, and her fingerprints could not be obtained.
Decomposition Hinders Autopsy and Investigation
The decomposition rendered an autopsy ineffective in determining whether medical malpractice contributed to Peterson’s death.
It was impossible to ascertain the role of medical negligence.
Major Delay in Signing Certificate
The family eventually learned that Peterson had died on April 8 of the previous year.
However, Dr. Nadeem Mukhtar did not sign the death certificate until April 4 of this year.
Body Stored in Off-Site Cold Storage for Extended Period
For most of that period, Peterson’s body was stored on shelf No. Red 22A in an off-site cold storage unit.
This information was confirmed by hospital records obtained by the family.
Family Seeks $25 Million in Damages
The family is seeking $25 million in damages, alleging negligence.
A representative from Dignity Health, the hospital’s parent company, was unavailable for comment on Thursday.
Attorney Criticizes Mercy San Juan
“Mercy San Juan hospital advertises that ‘at our care facilities, we take pride in treating all people with dignity and respect.”
“In this case, there was no dignity and no respect,” Greenberg stated.
“Failed in its most fundamental duty”
Greenberg continued, “Mercy San Juan hospital failed in its most fundamental duty to notify Jessie’s family of her death”
“Mercy San Juan stored Jessie in an off-site warehouse and she was left to decompose for nearly a year while her family relentlessly inquired about her whereabouts.”
