43
Hospital settles lawsuit over unborn child’s remains
YOUNGSTOWN
St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital has settled a lawsuit, in which a city woman said hospital employees disposed of the remains of her unborn child without her consent.
Lytanya Wylie, of North Garland Avenue, sued the hospital in February 2014, saying she was admitted to the hospital in labor June 2, 2013, having been pregnant with twins, one of them being delivered alive.
The other twin died before she went into labor and was removed from her uterus and disposed of by hospital employees “without her knowledge or consent,” the complaint said.
“Prior to her delivery, it was her wish and intention to bury her deceased child after a proper funeral service,” the complaint said.
The lawsuit said the hospital’s actions prevented Wylie “from giving said child a proper funeral and burial in violation of her parental rights” and caused her “severe emotional distress and pain.”
Court filings said the remains of the unborn child were likely discarded with medical waste.
The lawsuit, filed in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, sought more than $25,000 in damages, but John Shultz, a lawyer for Wylie, said the settlement terms are confidential.
Judge Lou A. D’Apolito finalized the settlement in a dismissal entry last week that didn’t reveal the settlement amount, but said no interest is due on it.
“Mercy Health is dedicated to improving the health of our communities and providing the very best care for everyone who comes to us. The settlement details are confidential, and our hearts go out to the family,” said Sally Hammel, manager of internal communications and public relations for Mercy Health Youngstown.