Couple Sues Hospital After Losing Son

A couple from Seattle is taking legal action against a hospital in Oregon after staff instructed them to drive their nearly 9-month-old son’s body home in their own car following his unexpected death in the emergency room.

Aleksandr and Nataliya Yeremeyev have filed a $10 million lawsuit against Salem Health and Dr. Stefani Sorensen. According to the lawsuit, the parents, who sought dignified treatment and transport for their son Michael’s remains, claim that hospital staff insisted they transport the body themselves.

Michael had Down syndrome and had spent the first six months of his life at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

“His parents ensured he received excellent care, so it’s just heartbreaking for his life to end in such a tragic and undignified manner,” remarked Anna Bruckenhoefer, the family’s attorney, as reported.

On September 22, 2024, the Yeremeyev family was in Salem for a religious retreat when Michael experienced rapid, shallow breathing late at night. Unfortunately, he didn’t survive after being rushed to Salem Health Hospital.

When the parents inquired about how to arrange respectful transport for Michael’s body back to Seattle, staff allegedly discouraged reaching out to a local funeral home because of costs, pressuring them instead to take their son’s body in their personal vehicle. Feeling they had no other option, they complied.

“They repeatedly asked the hospital for help on what to do next,” said Bruckenhoefer. “Everything was happening overnight, and they felt rushed to make quick decisions. The hospital left them with no choice but to transport Michael’s body themselves.”

Aleksandr ended up driving roughly four hours from Salem to Seattle with Michael’s body in the backseat, while Nataliya and their other children followed in a separate car.

The father endured severe emotional distress during the trip, worried about potential police stops, accidents, and the visible decay of his child’s body. Upon arriving at a funeral home in Seattle, he had to clean bodily fluids that had leaked onto the seat during the journey.

“Legally, it’s permissible in both Oregon and Washington to transport a deceased person with the right permits. But that’s not what our clients wanted; they were looking for support,” Bruckenhoefer noted. “In emergency departments, dealing with death is part of their routine. They should have had protocols in place to assist the Yeremeyevs through this tragic moment. Instead, they increased their grief by making them feel abandoned.”

“No parents should ever face what the Yeremeyevs went through,” Bruckenhoefer added. “It’s just shocking that something like this could happen in 2026.”

The lawsuit names Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics, Salem Health, Salem Emergency Physicians Service, and Dr. Sorensen, claiming direct negligence and a breach of the duty of care owed to grieving parents.

The yeremeyev family is seeking $10 million in non-economic damages for emotional distress and psychological trauma, and they plan to adjust their complaint to include punitive damages.

Salem Health Hospital stated that, as the matter is under litigation, it is unable to comment on the specifics of the child’s care, but emphasized that it acts according to the family’s wishes and complies with hospital policy and Oregon state law.

“Providing care with respect is essential to our clinical practice,” Salem Health’s statement concluded. “We recognize the deep sorrow families face after losing a loved one and strive to treat everyone with empathy and dignity.”