Family Sues Hospital, Claims 21-Year-Old Died from Painkiller Overdose After Broken Ankle Treatment

A 21-year-old woman died after receiving too many painkillers for a broken ankle at Waterbury Hospital in Connecticut, according to a lawsuit filed by her family. Dale Alice Martin was admitted to the hospital on April 10, 2025, to treat a fractured ankle sustained while doing farm work.

Her family's lawsuit claims that within 14 hours of her admission, hospital providers administered a high level of pain medication that caused Martin to stop breathing. The suit alleges that she was not monitored during this time, and the sedating effect of the medications prevented her from seeking help as she suffocated. A nurse reportedly checked on Martin at 7 a.m. on April 10, at which point her heart had stopped.

An autopsy determined that Martin died of cardiac arrest, attributed to the excessive painkillers. Her father, Lindsay Martin, expressed shock and grief, stating that the family was unaware of the hospital's financial and operational issues at the time of her death.

Waterbury Hospital was owned by Prospect Medical Holdings, a company that filed for bankruptcy in January 2025. The lawsuit suggests that the hospital may have been underfunded and poorly managed, potentially compromising patient care. Lawyers for the Martin family stated they expect to find evidence of a hospital operating with insufficient resources due to Prospect's alleged dismantling of infrastructure and reduction of staff and training.

Hartford HealthCare acquired Waterbury Hospital and two other facilities earlier in the year. A representative for the hospital declined to comment, citing that Martin's death occurred before the current ownership took effect. The former CEOs of Prospect Medical Holdings did not respond to requests for comment.