DETROIT — A Michigan appeals court revived a lawsuit against Detroit-area paramedics after a woman who had been declared dead gasped for air with her eyes open when a body bag was unzipped at a funeral home.
A judge was wrong to dismiss the lawsuit in favor of Southfield paramedics before the parties could conduct interviews and gather other evidence, a process known as discovery, the court said in a 3-0 opinion Thursday.
Timesha Beauchamp, who had cerebral palsy, was struggling to breathe when her family called 911 in August 2020.
The medical crew tried to resuscitate her but ultimately called a doctor, who declared the 20-year-old dead without going to the home. Beauchamp was never taken to a hospital.
Later that day, a funeral home unzipped the body bag and found Beauchamp had her eyes open. She was rushed to a hospital but died two months later.
Beauchamp’s family accused the medical crew of gross negligence. Oakland County Judge Nanci Grant dismissed the lawsuit, saying the Southfield employees had governmental immunity.
An attorney for the medical crew, Kali Henderson, acknowledged that it “sounds really bad” to say there’s no liability for the paramedics and emergency medical technicians.
“Where do we have the facts that anything they could have done would have changed her condition?” Henderson told the appeals court on June 12.
But Judge Brock Swartzle said lawyers for Beauchamp’s estate haven’t yet taken depositions and gathered more information.
“Discovery might show that they are not responsible for her passing two months later,” he said of Beauchamp’s death. “Just focusing on her being in a body bag for a certain amount of time — that would frighten, shock, humiliate anyone, wouldn’t it?”
“Certainly, your honor,” Henderson replied, “and I don’t disagree with that.”
The lawsuit now will return to Oakland County court.
Immediately after Beauchamp was found alive, the Southfield fire chief said it might be a case of “Lazarus syndrome,” a reference to people who come back to life without assistance after attempts to resuscitate have failed.
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A lawsuit over a shocking incident in which a Detroit-area woman was found alive in a body bag has been revived by a court, bringing renewed attention to the case and raising questions about medical malpractice and the handling of end-of-life situations.
The incident in question occurred in August 2014, when 20-year-old Timesha Beauchamp was pronounced dead by Southfield paramedics after they responded to a 911 call reporting that she was unresponsive. Beauchamp, who had cerebral palsy, was found to have no pulse and was not breathing. She was subsequently transported to a funeral home, where employees discovered that she was still alive when they unzipped the body bag.
Beauchamp was rushed to a hospital, where she was placed on life support and ultimately made a full recovery. The incident sparked outrage and disbelief, with many questioning how such a grave error could have occurred.
Now, nearly seven years later, Beauchamp’s family is seeking justice through a lawsuit against the city of Southfield, the paramedics involved in her care, and the funeral home where she was mistakenly declared dead. The lawsuit alleges negligence, emotional distress, and violation of Beauchamp’s civil rights.
The case had initially been dismissed by a lower court, but a Michigan appeals court recently ruled that the lawsuit can proceed, citing the need for further investigation into the circumstances surrounding Beauchamp’s misdiagnosis and premature declaration of death.
The revival of the lawsuit has reignited public interest in the case and raised important questions about the standards of care in emergency medical situations. It also highlights the need for greater accountability and oversight in the handling of end-of-life scenarios to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
As the legal proceedings continue, Beauchamp’s family hopes to shed light on the mistakes that were made in her case and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. The outcome of the lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for medical professionals and emergency responders, serving as a reminder of the importance of thorough and accurate assessments in life-and-death situations.
