HORROR: Woman has heart attack; wrongly pronounced dead at hospital; awakes in morgue freezer, break - Polidicks

[img]http://tribktla.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/white-memorial-hospital.jpg?w=300&h=163[/img] [quote=ktla] The family of a woman who may have been prematurely declared dead, awoke in the hospital’s freezer and struggled before ultimately freezing to death can go forward with a lawsuit against the hospital, an appellate court has ruled. Maria de Jesus Arroyo, 80, was pronounced dead in July 2010 at White Memorial Medical Center in Boyle Heights after suffering a heart attack. When morticians received her body a few days later, they found her body facedown, with her nose broken and cuts and bruises to her face, injuries so severe they could not be covered up by make-up, according to court papers. Arroyo’s husband and eight children initially sued the hospital alleging the body had been mishandled after her death. But during litigation, a pathologist who reviewed Arroyo’s injuries concluded the injuries most likely occurred while she was still alive – that she had been “frozen alive,” “eventually woke up” and “damaged her face and turned herself face down as she struggled unsuccessfully to escape her frozen tomb,” according court records. The family’s attorney, Scott Schutzman, withdrew the mishandling lawsuit and refiled a second case in May 2012 alleging the hospital had mistakenly declared her dead and frozen her while she was still living. A Los Angeles trial judge threw out that lawsuit, siding with the hospital’s attorneys that the second suit was filed too late, beyond the one-year statute of limitations after the family discovered Arroyo’s injuries. [/quote] [url="http://ktla.com/2014/04/02/family-claims-woman-was-froze-alive-by-l-a-hospital/#axzz2xvIXQkU6"] posted all of small source[/url] So happy the family will be able to go forward with the lawsuit against the hospital. This is terrifying

Normally I'm not a big fan of lawsuits, but it really looks justifiable in this case.

This should go for like 1 million for every hour she struggled before dying

Shouldn't there be a panic button in morgue freezers for things like this?

This happens a lot more then you think. People freezing in morgues, suffocating in body bags. Take a pulse people.

You'd think there'd be some kind of protocol before making that call, like say, hooking them up to a heart monitor. Pulses can be weak and hard to feel sometimes.

Lately I've read about several cases where a heart attack victim spontaneously revives after being declared dead. These cases suggest there is reason to re-evaluate when person should be declared dead. [editline]4th April 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=S3rpant67;44449898]Do people even care anymore this happens a lot more then you think. People freezing in morgues, suffocating in body bags. Take a pulse people.[/QUOTE] Taking pulse doesn't help if it's very weak or heart is temporarily stopped.

[QUOTE=Chamango;44449874]Shouldn't there be a panic button in morgue freezers for things like this?[/QUOTE] There should at least be an unlocking mechanism on the inside, like an emergency panic lever on the door that unhinges it.

That is absolutely terrifying... My condolences to the family.

Few decades ago an old man was pronounced dead in my village and was buried the same day. Few years later when his wife died and they opened the grave to bury her with him (here the graves are like small rooms made of concrete) they found his skeleton remains siting in the corner.

[QUOTE=S3rpant67;44449898]This happens a lot more then you think. People freezing in morgues, suffocating in body bags. Take a pulse people.[/QUOTE] Damn, your post count. but anyways, sadly; what you say is true

[QUOTE=AntonioR;44449964]Few decades ago an old man was pronounced dead in my village and was buried the same day. Few years later when his wife died and they opened the grave to bury her with him (here the graves are like small rooms made of concrete) they found his skeleton remains siting in the corner.[/QUOTE] fuck

[QUOTE=AntonioR;44449964]Few decades ago an old man was pronounced dead in my village and was buried the same day. Few years later when his wife died and they opened the grave to bury her with him (here the graves are like small rooms made of concrete) they found his skeleton remains siting in the corner.[/QUOTE] That's pretty depressing; like his skeleton was in the position of sitting in the corner? If so, then damn

So wait...they were unable to file a lawsuit because they waited too long to file a lawsuit? What kind of bullshit is that!? Your negligence killed someone! The family at least deserves some sort of fucking apology.

[QUOTE=Solo Wing;44450015][B]So wait...they were unable to file a lawsuit because they waited too long to file a lawsuit?[/B] What kind of bullshit is that!? Your negligence killed someone! The family at least deserves some sort of fucking apology.[/QUOTE] Yes; but thankfully the family has a court ruling to allow them to go forward with their case against the Hospital.

I think all freezers for the dead should have a panic button and a internal handle so they can get out. This is a horrible way to go!

[QUOTE=AntonioR;44449964]Few decades ago an old man was pronounced dead in my village and was buried the same day. Few years later when his wife died and they opened the grave to bury her with him (here the graves are like small rooms made of concrete) they found his skeleton remains siting in the corner.[/QUOTE]Nonono fuckTo sit there and wait to slowly die out of starvation and thirst must be the fucking worst, especially in a small room.

[QUOTE=Chamango;44449874]Shouldn't there be a panic button in morgue freezers for things like this?[/QUOTE] That sounds like a legitimate instalment. It may it even be considered if legal preceding's support the defence (which it will)..

[QUOTE=Kite_shugo;44449992]That's pretty depressing; like his skeleton was in the position of sitting in the corner? If so, then damn[/QUOTE] Yes, that is how they found him. The graveyard is outside the village in the forest, so nobody could hear him if he screamed for help.

[QUOTE=AntonioR;44449964]Few decades ago an old man was pronounced dead in my village and was buried the same day. Few years later when his wife died and they opened the grave to bury her with him (here the graves are like small rooms made of concrete) they found his skeleton remains siting in the corner.[/QUOTE] I want to be buried in that position just for the pure chance of people finding me some day.

[QUOTE=Chamango;44449874]Shouldn't there be a panic button in morgue freezers for things like this?[/QUOTE] I don't know why this was rated funny. They used to have bells connected to strings inside the coffins (and then sometimes tied to your wrist or something so that if you moved the bell would ring)

[QUOTE=Trumple;44450149]I don't know why this was rated funny. They used to have bells connected to strings inside the coffins (and then sometimes tied to your wrist or something so that if you moved the bell would ring)[/QUOTE] hence "saved by the bell" [editline]4th April 2014[/editline] cool i didn't know that

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYBZ63oOiCQ[/media] But seriously, this must have been horrible both for her and her family. Unacceptable.

[QUOTE=Limed00d;44450047]Nonono fuckTo sit there and wait to slowly die out of starvation and thirst must be the fucking worst, especially in a small room.[/QUOTE] he likely passed out from lack of oxygen after a number of hours, unless it was an above-ground crypt and crappily sealed or something. oxygen deprivation is a gentle way to go compared to most 'dying alone' scenarios

Fun fact: Back in the day they used to put bells on gravestones so that if the person is buried alive they can get somebody's attention. [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Coffin-bell.gif[/IMG]

[QUOTE=dai;44450571]he likely passed out from lack of oxygen after a number of hours, unless it was an above-ground crypt and crappily sealed or something. oxygen deprivation is a gentle way to go compared to most 'dying alone' scenarios[/QUOTE] I'm sure Limed00d is a pro at escaping outward sealed chambers that are kept at a low temperature 24/7. He certainly sounds like it...

Why do the morges need to have locks on the inside of the units? It's not like a dead body is going to open it, but a live person sure will try to.

[QUOTE=sirdownloadsalot;44449944]There should at least be an unlocking mechanism on the inside, like an emergency panic lever on the door that unhinges it.[/QUOTE] Uh no, then the zombies can get out. Common man

[QUOTE=W00tbeer1;44450643]Fun fact: Back in the day they used to put bells on gravestones so that if the person is buried alive they can get somebody's attention. [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Coffin-bell.gif[/IMG][/QUOTE] I can only imagine the feeling of waking up in a coffin like that, only to find the string yanked loose from the bell from your initial panic induced wriggling around

^Well gee that's fucking scary.