Additional Coverage:
- North Carolina mother sues hospital after newborn declared dead, then alive, then dead again (irishstar.com)
Charlotte, NC – A North Carolina mother has filed a lawsuit against Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, alleging an unimaginable ordeal involving the supposed death and subsequent “revival” of her newborn daughter, only to be told again that the child had passed away due to a doctor’s error.
LaChunda Hunter’s legal complaint details a harrowing sequence of events surrounding her newborn, Legacy, who was being treated for an elevated white blood cell count, difficulty breathing, and jaundice. On February 19, 2022, Hunter was reportedly informed by hospital staff that Legacy was “responding to antibiotics” and “looking beautiful,” only to be told hours later that her baby had died.
The following day, Hunter and her friends were allegedly led to a “windowless and dark” room, described as a storage closet, where she was presented with “a baby” identified by a nurse as Legacy. The complaint states that the baby was tightly wrapped in blankets, with only part of her head and face visible, and no tubes. Hunter and her friends grieved over the child.
However, three days after the initial notification of death, on February 22, Hunter received a call from Dr. Jay Kothadia, who reportedly expressed excitement about Legacy’s improved test results, detailing improvements in jaundice, white blood cell count, and breathing.
Dr. Kothadia allegedly conveyed optimism about Legacy’s condition, stating that things had “really turned around.”
Hunter, in “a state of shock,” had her work assistant on the line, who immediately challenged the doctor, exclaiming, “You told her that her baby was dead!” The complaint states that Dr. Kothadia then abruptly hung up, leaving Hunter in severe distress.
After desperately trying to reach the hospital, Hunter eventually connected with Dr. Preethi Srinivasakumar.
Dr. Srinivasakumar allegedly apologized for a “mistake” in the earlier call, explaining that the test results were for a different baby and that the wrong telephone number had been placed on the chart.
Hunter reportedly pressed for clarification, pointing out that Dr. Kothadia had made the prior call and that the reported test results aligned with Legacy’s actual health conditions.
However, Dr. Srinivasakumar allegedly became “defensive,” advising Hunter to “get a lawyer” and threatening to call security and have her arrested if she came to the hospital seeking answers.
The lawsuit concludes that Hunter “continues to experience doubts as to whether Legacy is alive or deceased” and has suffered “severe and debilitating anxiety, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and ongoing intrusive thoughts that her baby was still alive” as a result of the hospital’s conduct.
While Novant Health informed local NBC affiliate WCNC that a hospital-performed test confirmed the baby shown to Hunter was hers, a DNA test conducted by Hunter on the child reportedly came back inconclusive.
Hunter filed her complaint on Thursday and held a press conference to announce her legal action against the hospital. “I don’t want any mother to feel this. I don’t want any mother to go through what I’m going through,” she stated at the conference.
A spokesperson for Novant Health told WCNC, “We value the trust families place in us, and while privacy laws prevent us from commenting on individual circumstances, we take all concerns seriously. As caregivers, we guide people through profound moments of joy and loss, and we carry a deep understanding of the complexity of grief. As a result, our care teams are wholly committed to surrounding all families with compassionate care, respect, and support.”