NYC nurses’ strike contributed to 3 deaths at Mount Sinai, according to union leaders

Nurses’ Strike in New York City Leads to Tragic Deaths

The recent strike by nurses at three major hospitals in New York City has resulted in a disturbing rise in the death toll.

Reportedly, at least three individuals have died at Mount Sinai since the strike began. Among the deceased are two infants who tragically lost their lives during childbirth, along with a 24-year-old patient in the intensive care unit. Some families attribute these losses to insufficient care caused by the ongoing labor dispute.

“Our PCA [patient care associates] are saying there have been more Code Blues being called,” a union president, who has been a nurse at Mount Sinai for years, shared with the Saturday Post under the condition of anonymity.

This revelation comes amid a strike involving around 15,000 nurses in the city, now entering its sixth day, and backed by Mayor Zoran Mamdani. The strike represents the largest nurses’ disruption in the city’s history.

“A Code Blue indicates that a patient has passed away or is in dire need of emergency care,” the union president explained. “CPR must be initiated, and then the emergency team mobilizes. This usually involves doctors and various nursing staff.” She went on to express concern about the increasing number of alerts and deteriorating conditions for patients in their care.

“I’m hearing that more alerts are being issued,” she continued. “Patients are getting worse, and yes, more are dying. I’m not exaggerating here.”

The union official mentioned that the temporary nurses filling in at the hospitals are overstretched, implying a dangerous situation is unfolding. The strike has eclipsed a previous one in 2023, where 7,000 workers walked out for just three days.

Hospital leaders, caught off guard by a previous strike that led to favorable contract terms for nurses, seem to be taking a firmer stance this time. The New York State Nurses Association has been advocating for better staffing, pay raises, and preservation of medical benefits.

Katie Duke, a former nurse at Mount Sinai and current striker, stated that she frequently receives alarming updates from her former colleagues, claiming the strike has had deadly consequences. She cited the case of a 24-year-old man who died while relying on life support equipment.

“For patients awaiting something as critical as a lung transplant, this is the highest level of support available,” Duke explained. “The patient wasn’t adequately restrained or sedated, leading to a tragic outcome when the breathing tube was dislodged.”

“There are serious management issues within the hospital, with unqualified staff being brought in to fill gaps, and a refusal to negotiate constructively with nurses,” she added. “They’re putting patient safety at risk. The prevailing mindset is that nurses are easily replaceable, but that’s simply not true. My thoughts are with the family of that patient during this heartbreaking time.”