Claim Is Filed Over Girl Being Ruled Dead
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The family of a toddler revived after she apparently had drowned has filed a negligence claim against the hospital where she was declared dead.
Mackayala Jespersen fell into a swimming pool at her family’s Fullerton home Nov. 7.
The 20-month-old girl was rushed to Anaheim Memorial Medical Center, where efforts to revive her appeared to have failed.
A detective who was photographing the body in the emergency room noticed that she was still breathing nearly an hour after doctors had pronounced her dead.
The negligence claim, which must be made before a lawsuit can be filed, says that the hospital left the girl unattended for more than an hour and that she suffered brain damage from lack of oxygen.
It seeks unspecified damages.
The hospital and the state Department of Health Services said the facility followed proper procedures.
Results of a separate investigation by the state Board of Medical Quality Assurance are pending.
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