A family has been awarded a substantial sum of money after a woman was mistakenly pronounced dead and later showed signs of life when her body bag was opened at a funeral home.
Timesha Beauchamp, a 20-year-old with cerebral palsy, was initially declared dead in September 2020 after paramedics responded to an emergency at her Southfield residence. Despite efforts to revive her for 30 minutes, she was pronounced dead over the phone by a doctor following information provided by the paramedics.
The paramedics faced accusations of gross negligence when funeral workers witnessed Ms. Beauchamp opening her eyes and gasping for air upon arrival at the James H Cole Home for Funerals. The city of Southfield agreed to compensate the family with $3.25 million (£2.41 million) for the distress caused by the incident.
In response to the situation, a Southfield spokesperson acknowledged the challenges posed by the pandemic and expressed regret for the tragedy that befell Ms. Beauchamp’s family. The city reiterated its commitment to delivering top-notch emergency medical services to the community and hoped that the settlement would help all parties move forward.
Following the incident at the funeral home, Ms. Beauchamp was rushed to the hospital, where she passed away weeks later while on a ventilator due to severe hypoxic brain damage. The family’s legal representative, Steven Hurbis, stated that the family had endured a prolonged legal battle seeking justice for Timesha, and they were relieved to finally reach a resolution.
Mr. Hurbis mentioned that the family sought closure and healing after a long and arduous fight for justice, describing the settlement as a bittersweet moment. He emphasized the family’s gratitude for the justice served but acknowledged the enduring pain caused by the tragic events surrounding Ms. Beauchamp.
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