A deeply troubling case from New Jersey has raised serious questions about medical care and patient safety after a 64-year-old woman died just hours after undergoing a medical procedure. Her family has now filed a lawsuit, alleging negligence and major failures in treatment.
What Happened in This Case?
The woman, Phyllis Burrell, was an employee in East Orange who initially visited Mountainside Medical Center in late March 2024 for an acute medical issue. After a few days of treatment, she was discharged with medication.
However, after returning home, her health reportedly worsened significantly. She went back to the hospital on April 8, 2024, complaining of weakness and other serious symptoms. Tests at that time showed that she was suffering from severe multi-organ injury, which was much worse than during her earlier visit.
Alleged Misdiagnosis and Treatment Decisions
According to the lawsuit, doctors failed to recognise that her condition may have been caused by a rare but known reaction to the medication she had been prescribed. Instead of treating it as a drug reaction, they reportedly explored other possible causes.
Her family claims that doctors decided to perform a liver biopsy, even though less risky options were available. They were told that the procedure was necessary because scans had supposedly shown lesions on her liver.
What Happened During and After the Procedure?
After the biopsy was performed, Burrell was moved to a recovery area. The lawsuit alleges serious lapses in care at this stage.
According to the complaint, she was not properly monitored after the procedure. It is claimed that she was not connected to basic monitoring equipment like heart or blood pressure machines, and did not receive proper post-procedure care.
Her family, who arrived shortly after, noticed that she looked unwell and was feeling weak. Within a short time, her condition worsened rapidly. She became cold, lost consciousness, and could not be revived despite emergency efforts.
She was declared dead less than three hours after the procedure.
Autopsy Findings and Family Claims
A private forensic autopsy later revealed shocking findings. According to the family:
- There were no liver lesions, contradicting the hospital’s claim
- She had suffered a significant tear (laceration) in her liver
- The cause of death was massive internal bleeding
The family believes that this injury occurred during the biopsy and directly led to her death.
Allegations Against the Hospital
The lawsuit accuses the hospital and its staff of several serious failures. These include not correctly diagnosing her condition, performing an unnecessary and risky procedure, and failing to properly monitor her afterwards.
The family also claims that the official cause of death was wrongly listed as natural causes, without mentioning the biopsy or internal bleeding. They believe this was done to avoid further investigation.
The hospital, which is operated by Hackensack Meridian Health, has not commented on the case, as it is currently under legal review.
Legal Action and Family Response
Burrell’s family has filed a lawsuit seeking 40 million dollars in damages. They say they were shocked by what happened and are demanding accountability.
Family members have expressed disbelief, especially regarding the decision to perform the biopsy and the alleged lack of proper monitoring after the procedure.
