Misdiagnosis and Death

The focus was on Lakeland Hospital Saturday at a Benton Harbor NAACP meeting called by Rev. Pinkney. About 100 people attended, including 2 doctors and 5 city commissioners. Complaints and concerns were overwhelming. Racism, mistreatment, and misdiagnosis are what BH residents experience at the St. Joseph hospital. It is believed that BH residents have the highest infant mortality rate in the state of Michigan at Lakeland Hospital.

--One woman was told by a doctor that her family must leave the waiting room because white people were uncomfortable. Mary Rayner

--Another reported that a nurse told her colleague in front of the patient that she couldn't wait to scrub herself since she'd touched the patient; they both talked about how disgusting she was. Gloria

--A woman said that after her miscarraige, nurses place the stillborn baby between her legs for over 30 minutes; a doctor entered and, in anger, said he's never seen anything like it in his years of practice. Name withheld

--In another stillborn case, nurses repeatedly called the baby "it", laughing about it in front of woman who just went through labor. Sandra Bynum

--A woman's 70 year old mother died after being sent home right away after a difficult and serious surgery. Helen McKenzie (daughter)

--One woman with blood in her mouth was told by Dr. Stephens to go home, there were no rooms for her. Ambulance brought her back in an hour in worsened condition. She was put on life support - doctor told family to pull the plug. Mary Rayner

--Another woman's sister could barely breathe; a tube was shoved way too far down her throat, then put on life support. Again, doctor asked family to pull the plug. Dr. Hilpell was especially rude. Jackie R. (sister)

--A woman's mother waited to be treated for 12 hours in the ER and then died in the hospital. Joyce M. (daughter)

And this is only a sampling from Saturday's meeting.

The few African-American employees are mistreated. One with claustrophobia was forced to take the elevator, then fired. Sheila Duncan

*Please contact hospital VP Norma Tirado with your concerns. Contact info:

ntirado@lakelandregional.org
269-983-8549
269-982-4855 fax

Whirlpool Corp. and Rep. Fred Upton control Berrien County. The hospital has the same agenda as the court: Eliminate BH African Americans by any means necessary for redevelopment of the land.

Call Rev. Pinkney anytime 269-925-0001