Three individuals are suing PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Middle after a person who was incorrectly recognized as his roommate was taken off life assist.
On Aug. 8, 2021, Vancouver resident David Wells choked on a chunk of steak and misplaced consciousness. He was taken to the Vancouver hospital in an ambulance, the place he was mistakenly recognized as his roommate, Michael Beehler. The hospital contacted Beehler’s sister, Debbie Danielson, who, believing Wells was her brother, selected to take him off life assist, based on the lawsuit.
Vancouver-based Henderson Taylor Regulation Agency filed the swimsuit Dec. 3 in Clark County Superior Courtroom on behalf of the three plaintiffs: Danielson, Beehler and Shawn Wells, the son of David Wells.
The plaintiffs are suing PeaceHealth for negligence and extreme emotional misery “as a direct result of PeaceHealth’s extreme and outrageous conduct,” the lawsuit states.
“Defendant PeaceHealth … violated their duty, breached the applicable standards of care, and were negligent in misidentifying Mr. Wells and failing to disclose the misidentification to plaintiffs,” the lawsuit states.
PeaceHealth spokeswoman Debra Carnes mentioned the hospital can’t touch upon pending litigation.
“Given that PeaceHealth is involved in litigation, it is unfortunate we are unable to share the facts about this situation. Our unwavering commitment of caring for our community remains stronger than ever,” Carnes added.
The plaintiffs additionally filed a separate lawsuit Aug. 5 in opposition to American Medical Response ambulance companies, All County Cremation & Burial Providers and the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Workplace.
The lawsuit alleges that AMR was negligent in misidentifying Wells. In keeping with the lawsuit, All County and the health worker’s workplace each did not disclose the misidentification error and notify subsequent of kin.
Each lawsuits are searching for an unspecified quantity in damages.
The health worker’s workplace and AMR each declined to touch upon the lawsuit.
All County Cremation & Burial Providers didn’t reply to requests for remark.