Sawyer Law Firm Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Sawyer Law Firm has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the family of a Montgomery, Alabama, man against Baptist Medical Center South. The complaint alleges that negligent care and a failure to prevent and properly treat pressure injuries led to his untimely death.

The 57-year-old man suffered a spinal cord injury after falling from a ladder at home. During his hospitalization, he developed severe pressure injuries (commonly known as bedsores), which allegedly progressed to advanced stages due to lapses in basic patient care.

According to the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Sawyer Law Firm, hospital staff failed to follow well-established standards for preventing pressure injuries, including regular repositioning, thorough skin assessments, proper nutrition and hydration, and timely intervention when early signs of skin breakdown appeared.

“These injuries are entirely preventable when proper protocols are followed,” said J.P. Sawyer, counsel for the family. “Instead, this man suffered needlessly as these wounds worsened, ultimately leading to infection and death.”

The lawsuit further alleges that the pressure injuries became infected, resulting in septic shock and ultimately causing his death. The family contends that earlier intervention and adherence to accepted standards of care would have prevented the injuries from developing or worsening. The suit seeks punitive damages to help prevent similar harm to other patients.

“The healthcare industry uses the term ‘never event’ to describe serious pressure injuries for a reason—these are not supposed to happen,” Sawyer said.