U.S. News
Hospitals Allegedly Hide Remains as Families Demand Answers
Clear Facts
- CommonSpirit Health is slated to testify before the House Committee on Ways and Means on health care affordability and system standards.
- Dignity Health faces lawsuits alleging families were not told of loved ones’ deaths for months or years.
- Federal regulators found Mercy San Juan Medical Center failed to comply with rules on family notification and patient remains.
Distressing reports have emerged detailing how hospital remains were left to decompose while families searched for missing loved ones.
These findings come as health system executives prepare to address Congress about the state of American health care.
Investigations revealed that at least one body was allegedly held in storage for over three years without a death certificate being issued.
Local law enforcement reportedly spent resources searching for people who had already died in these medical facilities.
Negligence and Lack of Dignity
One lawsuit involving a Vietnam veteran alleges his body remained in cold storage for years before the family was notified.
The family of another patient said they could identify their relative only by a tattoo because of the advanced state of decomposition.
“There’s no dignity in this,” Jacob Harvey told investigators regarding the treatment of his father’s remains.
“I don’t even know how they can use that name.”
The health system cited COVID-19 backlogs as the reason for delayed death certificates in court filings.
Families continue to seek accountability for the emotional trauma and condition of the remains.
“Her body was in the worst condition you can imagine,” stated Dalee Marez regarding her sister’s remains.
“Her face looked like someone put battery acid all on her face.”
Dignity Health has stated it does not discuss the specifics of litigation or patient care due to privacy laws.
The parent company has not yet provided further comment on the allegations.
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