My dad was brought in to a hospital in Jan of 06 and died 2 weeks later. No family was contacted during his stay. He had no picture id, but a charity card with his name on it. I believe because he appeared to be a homeless person (which he was not, but he did have a drinking problem) no attempt was made to contact his next of kin or family, not even the church on the charity card! He died in Jan of 06 and we finally found him in april, in a city morgue, sadly but aslo luckily. We found him just days before he was set (paperwork and all) to be sent to potter's field and buried there, which, is a cemetary for unidentified people. He would have been buried there and we would have never know what happened to him! Do we have a case of neglect for whoever is responsible for this near catastropy on top of our tragic loss??
2006-06-07 04:16:55 · 6 answers · asked by Meliskell 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Too bad some people do not put forth as much effort or more to help dear old dad before he dies as they do sucking like leeches after he has passed.
2006-06-07 05:40:31 · answer #1 · answered by ½«gumwrapper 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My question would be was his absence reported to the police authorities? Was he missing when he was hospitalized? Records may have been created if he was missing from your home. Once authorities know that a family member is out of pocket, they receive pictures, and other documentation from the family to help locate the lost family member. Certainly with the information the hospital had from your Dad, contact should have been made. I doubt that you have a case though. Thank God you located him and was able to bury him where your family could be at peace and morn him appropriately.
2006-06-07 04:26:42 · answer #2 · answered by THE SINGER 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should just be happy you found him. Hospitals have many people die every day its not their responsibility to find the family members of what I would guess are many occasions this has happened with other unidentified people.
Its the police responsibility to locate your father once he is reported missing, alive or not.
But anyways sorry for your loss.
2006-06-07 05:35:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. But your award will be negligible. By the time the lawyer takes his cut, and pays for expert testimony to say how this ordeal has psychologically damaged your family, you'll be lucky to get a couple grand for your trouble.
2006-06-07 04:21:53 · answer #4 · answered by Quietman40 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where were you at during this time? Didn't you ever try to visit him? There seems to be more to this story that you are leaving out. let it go and bury your father with respect
2006-06-07 04:23:23 · answer #5 · answered by cookie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try speaking to an attorney. it seems to me they should have at least attempted to contact family. sorry for your loss.
2006-06-07 04:20:18 · answer #6 · answered by sparkydog_1372 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋