A little girl may still be alive today if her mother had received the medical care she so desperately needed. Now one family is looking for representation to file a lawsuit for hospital negligence.
The 32-year-old mother went to a hospital looking for psychiatric help, but was turned away because she is an illegal immigrant and did not have the proper paperwork. She later drowned her one-year-old daughter and attempted to drown her five-year-old daughter.
In the weeks before the tragedy, the woman’s family members noticed that she was depressed. At one point, the mother of two asked a relative to care for her children in case anything happened to her.
The mother was arrested and is currently being held on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
This story illustrates how serious depression can be and how important it is for people to get the help that they need. Although surgical mistakes and misdiagnosis are common forms of medical malpractice, denying someone medical care is blatant negligence.
People go to the hospital for help and assume they will be able to get the care that they need, but that may not always happen. When a doctor or other hospital staff member is negligent, they should be held accountable.
The family may be awarded compensation to help pay for funeral expenses and medical bills. Although no amount of money can bring back the little girl, the family may feel justice has been served if the hospital is held responsible for their inaction.
Source: Los Angeles Times, “Drowned girl’s mom sought mental help, was rebuffed, relative says,” Feb. 16, 2012
