A grieving mother is encouraging Gov. Kathy Hochul to do the right thing and sign a measure that she claims will assist families like hers receive the recompense they deserve for wrongful death.
“I will never get my son back, and I don’t want it on anyone… “I hope his story raises awareness about what can happen,” Keri-Sue McManus said. The Columbia County mother is suing Albany Med Health System and its partners after claiming her three-year-old son died in their care after visiting their doctor’s offices and pediatric emergency room several times.
“I knew something was wrong and no one listened.”
Keri-Sue stated that her son Micah’s health was deteriorating in November 2022, after contracting COVID the previous month. His symptoms didn’t go away. After many visits to Micah’s pediatrician, Keri-Sue felt it was time to visit the ER.
She claimed she rarely saw the same doctor twice.
“I was with him for 17 hours on the day he died. I noticed a few different people. They had not met me before. I wasn’t communicating with anyone that I thought was on our side in treating and healing my son.”
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Micah died of a pulmonary embolism after his third visit to the ER.
Even before he died, Keri-Sue was determined to hold the hospital accountable. That’s why she filed a 116-page lawsuit alleging medical malpractice and wrongful death. Joe Ciaccio represents the McManus family at Napoli Shkolnik.
Keri-Sue stated that this is for all of the families whose loved ones were never given a fighting chance. “If I could create a sense of accountability where they could examine what they did wrong, I would like that to not happen to anybody else.”
Keri-Sue is a fervent advocate for Hochul to sign the Grieving Families Act. This change broadens who can claim wrongful death on behalf of a loved one, as well as the types of damages that a person or family can seek. This encompasses sadness, anguish, and the loss of love.
The New York legislature has passed the law for the third year in a row. Both previous versions faced a veto. Albany Med declined to comment on active cases but did state that it is the region’s sole level-one pediatric trauma facility.
A press release continues: “While there are multiple factors to consider when looking at the duration of patient visits, we are doing everything we can — from every angle — to ensure everyone has access to the care they need when they need it.”
