A family has been compensated with a significant sum of money after a shocking incident where a woman was mistakenly declared dead but was discovered alive when her body bag was opened at a funeral home.
Timesha Beauchamp was pronounced deceased in September 2020 following a medical emergency at her Southfield residence in the Detroit area. The 20-year-old, who had cerebral palsy, was declared dead over the phone by a doctor after paramedics attempted CPR for 30 minutes without success.
The paramedics faced severe criticism when funeral home staff witnessed Ms. Beauchamp showing signs of life upon arrival at the James H Cole Home for Funerals. The city agreed to pay her family $3.25 million (£2.41 million) to address the traumatic experience.
In a recent statement, a spokesperson for Southfield acknowledged the challenges posed by the pandemic during the incident, emphasizing the city’s commitment to delivering top-notch emergency medical services despite the complex circumstances.
Following the incident at the funeral home, Ms. Beauchamp was rushed to the hospital but tragically passed away weeks later while on a ventilator due to severe hypoxic brain damage. The family’s attorney, Steven Hurbis, stated that she suffered irreversible brain damage caused by lack of oxygen before her eventual demise in October 2020.
The family expressed their sorrow, stating, “This is the second time our beloved Timesha has been pronounced dead, but this time she isn’t coming back.” They pursued legal action with lawyer Geoffrey Fieger’s assistance, leading to a settlement in December after protracted legal proceedings.
In an interview with the Detroit Free Press, Mr. Hurbis mentioned that Ms. Beauchamp’s family seeks closure and healing after enduring a lengthy legal battle. He remarked on the bittersweet nature of the settlement, noting that while justice was served, the family had endured an unimaginable tragedy.
The family finally received some measure of justice they had been seeking for so long, allowing them to begin the healing process and properly mourn their loss.