Bronx: Family Files Lawsuit for Wrongful Death of Mom

A mother of two children died at the Lincoln Hospital in Bronx, NYC, after a minor procedure, following which the deceased’s family filed a medical malpractice lawsuit. Rosemary Abreu went to the hospital on Sep. 20, 2019, to remove a cyst from her thigh. While the procedure of cyst removal is simple, Abreu didn’t come out alive. 

According to the NY Daily News, the 27-year-old mother suffered a cardiac arrest in the middle of the surgery, fell into a coma, and died shortly after. Her family has filed a $50 million medical malpractice lawsuit.

Abreu was a paraprofessional at the Department of Education and a mother of two girls: nine-year-old Katelyn and two-year-old Luna. 

Hospital Negligence

The victim's mother, 50-year-old Dorah Restituyo, had claimed that the hospital staff did not even notify the family about Abreu's death and that she only came to know about her daughter's death when she went to the hospital herself to check on Abreu. When Restituyo and her son Michael Abreu confronted the hospital staff about Rosemary’s death, the doctors said they "don't know what happened." 

The family’s lawyer said Abreu's tragic death should never have happened, adding that going to a hospital for a procedure as simple as cyst removal and dying during the surgery is tragic and intolerable. 

The lawsuit alleges that the hospital staff mishandled Abreu’s surgery and committed numerous mistakes, such as incorrectly administering anesthesia and not consistently checking her vitals during the operation. 

Abreu's mother claimed that her daughter did not have any pre-existing medical condition before going to the Lincoln hospital for the surgery. Her family even emphasized that Abreu was in perfect condition moments before the surgery and was seen happily chatting away. 

Moreover, the hospital administration has failed to respond to both the family and news reporters. A spokesperson for the Lincoln Hospital, Cheryl Simmons-Oliver, refused to comment on the situation.  

Medical Malpractice in NYC Hospitals

Medical malpractice in NYC causes hundreds of deaths every year. Due to the carelessness of the staff at many hospitals, thousands of people end up suffering from illnesses, injuries, and permanent disabilities. And many people die in horrific conditions. Most of these events could be prevented if the staff is careful and follows the standard medical protocols. 

According to a New York Post report, 468 people died of medical negligence in NYC’s public hospitals from 2015 to 2019. The Post’s investigation revealed that the city paid $34 million in compensation to 56 families for wrongful deaths that happened in NYC’s public hospitals in 2018 alone. It also found that some patients died in dreadful situations. 

While medical negligence warrants significant financial compensation, filing a lawsuit and winning the case can be extremely difficult without a qualified medical malpractice attorney.

The Legal Aspect

Medical malpractice attorneys possess the necessary experience, knowledge, and contacts to file a strong medical negligence lawsuit. Hiring a lawyer specializing in your specific case, such as a medical malpractice lawyer or a wrongful death attorney, will increase your chance of securing reasonable compensation.

Contact a medical negligence lawyer in NYC to discuss your case and work out the viability of filing a lawsuit.