A family has been awarded a substantial sum of money after a woman was mistakenly declared dead and then showed signs of life when her body bag was opened at a funeral home.
Timesha Beauchamp was pronounced deceased in September 2020 after emergency responders were called to her residence in Southfield, a suburb of Detroit, as she experienced breathing difficulties during a medical incident. The 20-year-old, who had cerebral palsy, was declared dead by a doctor over the phone based on information from the paramedics who had unsuccessfully attempted to revive her for 30 minutes.
Following the incident, the paramedics faced accusations of severe negligence when funeral home staff witnessed Ms. Beauchamp open her eyes and gasp for air upon arrival at the James H Cole Home for Funerals. Subsequently, the city agreed to compensate her distressed family with $3.25 million (£2.41 million).
In a recent statement, a spokesperson for Southfield acknowledged the complexities of the case exacerbated by the challenging circumstances of the pandemic. They expressed regret over the tragic events and emphasized the city’s commitment to delivering top-tier emergency medical services to the community.
After being discovered alive by the funeral workers, Ms. Beauchamp was promptly taken to the hospital, where she succumbed to her condition weeks later while on life support. The family’s attorney, Steven Hurbis, disclosed that the young woman suffered severe brain damage due to oxygen deprivation before passing away in October 2020.
In a statement released by the family, they lamented that this was the second time Timesha had been mistakenly declared dead, but this time there would be no miraculous recovery.
The family initiated a civil lawsuit in early October 2020, represented by lawyer Geoffrey Fieger, which led to a prolonged legal battle culminating in a settlement agreement reached in December.
In an interview with the Detroit Free Press, attorney Mr. Hurbis, from the Fieger law firm, mentioned that the Beauchamp family sought closure after enduring a lengthy struggle. He expressed their relief at finally being able to mourn and find solace after fighting for justice for Timesha.
Mr. Hurbis acknowledged the mixed emotions of the moment, describing it as bittersweet, as the family grappled with an unimaginable tragedy similar to the experiences of other families they had assisted.
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