A Michigan woman and her family have filed a lawsuit against Ascension St. John Hospital after hospital staff allegedly lost a portion of her skull during emergency brain surgery and later offered her a $25 gas station gift card as compensation—an offer the family has described as deeply insulting.
According to court documents and reporting by KOMO News, Edna Burton, 61, suffered a stroke on June 14, 2023, and was rushed to Ascension St. John Hospital, where she underwent a life-saving procedure known as a decompressive right hemicraniectomy. The surgery involves temporarily removing part of the skull to relieve pressure on the brain.
A Shocking Discovery After Surgery
Burton’s legal team, the Oliver Bell Group, says surgeons made it clear that the removed section of her skull was to be preserved and reattached once the swelling in her brain subsided. However, when doctors later prepared to restore the bone, they reportedly discovered that the skull fragment was missing.
According to a statement released to PR Newswire, hospital staff allegedly informed Burton and her family that her skull had been mistakenly mixed up with another patient’s body parts, possibly due to similar names.
As a result, surgeons implanted a prosthetic plate in place of Burton’s missing skull bone.
Declining Health and Family Outrage
Burton’s family says her condition has underwent a rapid and devastating decline since the surgery. Her daughter, Erica Burton, told local outlet WDIV that her mother became largely nonverbal, stopped eating, and became bed-bound, eventually developing bed sores.
“She stopped talking, really, stopped eating,” Erica said. “Her physical therapist said, ‘I’m not going to continue therapy because we’re torturing her with how much pain she’s in.’”
The family questions whether Burton’s current condition stems solely from the stroke or from what they describe as avoidable medical negligence.
“You threw her bone away,” Erica added. “You didn’t even give her the chance.”
$25 Gas Card Offer Sparks Legal Action
Court filings indicate that hospital administrators offered Burton a $25 gas card in response to the incident. The family rejected the gesture, calling it dismissive and inadequate given the severity of the alleged error.
Attorney Cameron Bell said hospital representatives suggested Burton might be “better off” with an artificial skull—an argument he described as “asinine.”
“Our client deserved dependable medical care during a life-threatening emergency,” said attorney Alyson Oliver. “Instead, she suffered an avoidable and life-changing injury due to simple negligence.”
Lawsuit Seeks Accountability
The lawsuit seeks full compensation to cover Burton’s ongoing medical needs, pain and suffering, and long-term care.
The case has drawn public attention for its disturbing allegations and renewed scrutiny of hospital accountability, patient safety, and medical error protocols in U.S. healthcare facilities.
Ascension St. John Hospital has not publicly commented on the lawsuit as of publication.
