A New Jersey father, Jerome White, 35, died after collapsing outside Cooper University Hospital in Camden on June 3, 2020, following a severe asthma attack. Sheriff's officers witnessed his condition deteriorate outside the emergency room after he had been treated inside and discharged during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. White, who had a documented history of severe asthma, had sought treatment for breathing difficulties.
According to an incident report, when officers expressed concern and approached hospital staff a second time, an on-duty nurse stated that White "comes here all the time and pretends to be sick." Moments later, White collapsed on the pavement. Officers attempted to move him, but he became unresponsive, his lips turning blue. Medical staff were called, and White was taken back into the emergency room but had stopped breathing. He died on June 19, 2020, 16 days later, from anoxic encephalopathy and cardiac arrest.
Following White's death, his family threatened legal action against Cooper University Hospital and Camden County. This led to a previously undisclosed $15 million wrongful-death settlement reached in 2021. Of the settlement, $12 million was paid by Cooper University Hospital, and Camden County contributed $3 million. The settlement agreement included no admission of wrongdoing from either party.
Legal experts suggested the settlement amount was unusually large, indicating potentially egregious behavior by the hospital. One professor of health law and policy noted the circumstances appeared to violate the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, which mandates hospitals provide emergency treatment to those seeking it. However, the specifics of what transpired within the emergency department before White was discharged remain unclear due to the confidentiality clause in the settlement.
Camden County stated that its officers were investigated by internal affairs and cleared, with no disciplinary actions taken. The county maintained that its officers used no force against White and denied any rights violations. The incident occurred during a period of significant strain on New Jersey hospitals due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The settlement included a confidentiality agreement, described by the family's attorney as essential for reaching the deal. The attorney's law firm received $5 million of the settlement, which was approved by a Superior Court judge. Approximately $10 million was placed into a trust for White's son, who was 14 at the time of his father's death.
Cooper University Hospital declined to comment on its role in White's death or the settlement, citing the confidentiality clause. The circumstances surrounding White's death highlight the pressures faced by healthcare systems during the pandemic and the complex legal and financial resolutions that can follow patient fatalities.
