Mother Sues Hospital for Allegedly Falsely Reporting Son's Death
A Las Vegas hospital is accused of negligence and causing emotional distress after reportedly informing a mother her son had died when he was still alive.
Marlene Garbowski has filed a lawsuit against Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas, alleging that hospital staff negligently informed her that her son, Geoffrey Garbowski, had died. The lawsuit states that Marlene was seeking medical documents for her son in November 2024 to assist with his Supplemental Security Income benefits application when she was told he was a "deceased patient."
Marlene Garbowski claims she was "paralyzed by grief" for three days following the hospital's incorrect notification, stating she was unable to get out of bed and struggled with daily functioning. The complaint further alleges that she had to take anti-anxiety medication for the first time due to the emotional distress caused by the hospital's false statement.
According to the lawsuit, a complaint manager from Southern Hills Hospital later contacted Marlene, apologizing for the error and referring to it as a "learning tool" for staff. Garbowski's complaint argues this call served as an admission of wrongdoing by the hospital.
Southern Hills Hospital issued a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, asserting their commitment to high standards of care and expressing confidence in their staff. The hospital indicated that the error involved a third-party vendor and that the allegations do not fully represent the circumstances. Due to the pending litigation, the hospital stated it could not comment further.
The lawsuit seeks at least $15,000 in compensation, along with additional damages to be determined by the court. The causes of action listed include negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress, with the complaint asserting that Southern Hills failed to exercise reasonable care in the accuracy of information provided. The suit also references Nevada law, which mandates that hospitals maintain accurate medical records and employ sufficient staff to ensure prompt and accurate communication of patient information.