Family Sues Arizona Hospital After Son’s Tragic Death

A family has filed a lawsuit against an Arizona hospital concerning the death of their 27-year-old son, who allegedly succumbed to neglect after being left on a hot sidewalk in August.

Seth and Gail Lachka are the parents of Kaelen Lachka, who they claim was wrongfully dismissed from Abrazo Health Arrowhead. The family asserts that hospital staff placed him in an Uber and dropped him off at a homeless shelter in Phoenix, as reported recently. Kaelen had been battling anorexia, which is a serious mental disorder characterized by severely restricted food intake.

According to information from the Cleveland Clinic, anorexia can lead to malnutrition and dangerously low body weight, posing significant health risks. Without recognition and intervention, the condition can be life-threatening, which makes it crucial for individuals and their families to seek help upon noticing symptoms.

While Kaelen was on the path to recovery, complications, including a potential stroke and further weight loss, led to his stay at Arrowhead. Just before he was discharged, he exhibited paranoia and immobility, reportedly becoming aggressive toward staff and attempting to leave against their advice.

The family’s attorney claims that hospital personnel sent him away in an Uber despite his inability to recall his own address, which was noted in his medical records. Tragically, police discovered him lying on the sidewalk in extreme heat, where paramedics made efforts to revive him, but he later died in another hospital.

At the scene, Seth Lachka expressed his anguish to officers, stating, “I told them not to release him. They brought him here and just dropped him off to die.” Following the incident, he described the ordeal as a “gross disregard for his son’s well-being.” He lamented the loss of hope for Kaelen’s recovery, remarking, “He wanted to be healthy. And we always had hope. And now they took that hope away from us.”

Seth Lachka, who works as a social worker and held a medical power of attorney, voiced his deep concerns about his son’s mental condition during Kaelen’s hospitalization. He insists that he communicated the severity of the situation, even warning the staff that discharging him could have fatal consequences. He concluded by holding the hospital accountable, emphasizing that there seemed to be no regard for his son’s life or safety.