An 81-year-old woman and the matriarch of an outdoor advertising company allegedly vomited herself to death mere days after an annual checkup.
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Julia Reagan became well-known to residents of Salt Lake City last year. Per a report by the Daily Mail, her husband, Bill Reagan, memorialized his late wife on billboards across the city. She is now the focal point in a lawsuit accusing the University of Utah Hospital and Clinics of negligence.
According to the Lawsuit acquired by ABC4, "The U is liable for the acts and omissions of its employees, agents, and representatives, including but not limited to nurses responsible for Julia'scare after she was admitted to the hospital."
The suit alleges that Julia and Bill returned home after Julia's annual checkup at the Mayo Clinic on June 8, 2024. A couple of days later, on June 10, Julia felt unwell and was "dehydrated and very drowsy." Bill called Emergency Services, noting that Julia was "dehydrated and fatigued" but was well enough to stay home.
Julia's condition worsened the following day. She allegedly vomited multiple times, and Emergency Services took her to University Hospital ER in the afternoon. The lawsuit details the events of June 11, where doctors discovered Julia had a mild collapsed lung and "a large fluid-filled, distended hiatal hernia and stomach."
According to the lawsuit, Julia's doctors did not remove the fluid from her distended stomach and hiatal hernia. A doctor allegedly wrote that specific precautions should be followed, including an adjusted position while eating and drinking. The lawsuit alleges this did not happen.
The 81-Year-Old Went Into Cardiac Arrest
Medical staff reportedly failed to check on Julia sufficiently or manage her posture. The lawsuit explains that she "experienced one or more severe episodes of emesis" in the early morning. These episodes caused 'catastrophic injury' to Julia's lungs and brain, leading to cardiac arrest and her death.
The suit is seeking monetary compensation for "Julia's wrongful death" and her "conscious pain and suffering."
They are also seeking expenses for medical, funeral, and burial-related damages. Per the Daily Mail, the hospital said in a statement, "As always, the safety and care of our patients is our priority. We don't comment on specific patient cases or ongoing litigation."
