A couple from Seattle has filed a $10 million lawsuit against an Oregon hospital and one of its doctors, alleging they were instructed to transport the body of their nearly nine-month-old son four hours back to Seattle in their private vehicle following his unexpected death in the emergency room.
Aleksandr and Nataliya Yeremeyev are suing Salem Health and Dr. Stefani Sorensen. The parents assert they sought respectful and appropriate care for the remains of their son, Michael, including professional transportation. However, the lawsuit claims hospital staff insisted they personally take the body home.
Michael was born with Down syndrome and spent the initial six months of his life receiving specialized care at Seattle Children's Hospital.
Anna Bruckenhoefer, the family’s attorney, highlighted the profound tragedy of the situation. She stated that Michael's parents had ensured he received excellent care throughout his life, making his untimely death and the alleged lack of dignity in its aftermath particularly heartbreaking.
The Tragic Loss and Hospital's Alleged Directives
The incident occurred on September 22, 2023, while the family was visiting Salem, Oregon, for a religious retreat. Late that night, Michael developed rapid, shallow breathing. He was rushed to the emergency room at Salem Health Hospital, where he tragically passed away, according to the legal complaint.
When the bereaved parents inquired about arranging respectful transportation to send Michael’s body home to Seattle, hospital staff allegedly discouraged them from contacting a local funeral home, citing it would be “too expensive.” Instead, the lawsuit contends staff pressured the family to transport their son’s body themselves in their personal car. Feeling they had no other choice, the family ultimately complied.
Bruckenhoefer explained that the parents repeatedly sought assistance from the hospital regarding the next steps. She noted that these events unfolded overnight, leaving the family feeling rushed to make quick decisions. The attorney asserted that the hospital presented them with no option other than to personally transport Michael's body back to Seattle.
A Distressing Journey Back to Seattle
Aleksandr then embarked on the approximately four-hour drive from Salem to Seattle, with his son’s body placed in the backseat. His wife and their other children followed in a separate vehicle.
According to the lawsuit, Aleksandr endured severe emotional distress during the journey, plagued by fears of potential police stops, car accidents, and the visible deterioration of his child's body. Upon arriving at a Seattle funeral home, the father was compelled to clean bodily fluids that had leaked onto the car seat during the trip.
Bruckenhoefer clarified that while it is legally permissible in both Oregon and Washington to transport a deceased person with the proper permits, this was not the family's preferred course of action. She emphasized that the Yeremeyevs were seeking guidance and support from the hospital regarding the appropriate procedures. As a hospital emergency department, she argued, death is an unfortunate reality they are accustomed to handling, and they should have established protocols to assist families during such devastating times. Instead, she stated, the hospital allegedly compounded their grief by essentially leaving them to cope on their own.
The attorney reiterated that no parents or loved ones should ever be placed in such a predicament, expressing profound surprise that such an incident could occur in this day and age.
Legal Arguments and Hospital's Defense
The lawsuit names Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics, Salem Health, Salem Emergency Physicians Service, and Dr. Sorensen as defendants. It alleges direct negligence, vicarious liability, and a breach of the heightened duty of care owed to grieving parents for the respectful treatment and custody of a child's body.
The family is seeking $10 million in non-economic damages to compensate for severe emotional distress and psychological trauma. They also intend to amend their complaint to include punitive damages.
In response to the allegations, Salem Health Hospital stated that due to privacy concerns and ongoing litigation, it is unable to discuss the specifics of the child's care. The hospital asserted that it responded in accordance with the family’s wishes and adhered to both hospital policy and Oregon state law, following consultation with relevant local authorities, including the medical examiner.
A statement from Salem Health affirmed that “Care with respect is a guiding principle of clinical practice at Salem Hospital and remains central to how we support patients and families during some of life's most difficult moments. We recognize the profound grief families experience following the loss of a loved one and treat every patient and family with empathy, dignity, and respect.”
