Parents sue Oregon hospital over transport of dead baby

Aleksandr and Nataliya Yeremeyev have filed a $10 million lawsuit against Salem Health and Dr. Stefani Sorensen, alleging that hospital staff instructed the Seattle parents to drive their nearly 9-month-old son's body four hours back to Washington in their private car. The complaint claims that after Michael Yeremeyev died at Salem Health Hospital in Oregon, staff rejected the family's request to use a funeral home as "too expensive" and pressured them to transport the remains themselves. The parents, who were visiting Salem for a religious retreat, reported that they felt they had no other option during the overnight incident. The lawsuit asserts that the hospital breached its duty of care by failing to provide guidance or respectful handling of the deceased child's body.

The incident occurred on September 22, 2024, when Michael, who was born with Down syndrome, developed rapid, shallow breathing and was rushed to the emergency room. Anna Bruckenhoefer, the family's attorney, stated that the parents sought dignified care and assistance with next steps but were left to make quick decisions without proper support. According to the complaint, Aleksandr drove approximately four hours from Salem to Seattle with his son's body in the backseat, while his wife and other children followed in a separate vehicle. The father reported suffering severe emotional distress due to fears of police stops and accidents, as well as the visible deterioration of his child's body during the trip. Upon arriving at a Seattle funeral home, he had to clean bodily fluids that had leaked onto the seat.

Bruckenhoefer noted that while it is legal to transport a deceased person with proper permits in Oregon and Washington, the family was seeking hospital guidance rather than legal permission to drive the body themselves. She argued that the hospital should have had protocols in place to assist the family during a traumatic event but instead compounded their grief by leaving them on their own. The legal action targets Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics, Salem Health, Salem Emergency Physicians Service, and Sorensen, citing claims of direct negligence and vicarious liability. The family is currently seeking $10 million in non-economic damages for emotional distress and psychological trauma, with plans to amend the complaint to include punitive damages.

Salem Health responded in a statement provided to Fox 13, stating that it could not discuss specific care details due to privacy concerns and ongoing litigation. The hospital maintained that it responded in accordance with the family's wishes and followed both hospital policy and Oregon state law while consulting with local authorities, including the medical examiner. The statement emphasized that care with respect is a guiding principle at Salem Hospital and affirmed its commitment to treating patients and families with empathy and dignity during difficult times.