A Black family in Tampa Bay is calling for justice after the wrongful deaths of two sisters, Patricia Ann Washington and LaShawn Washington.
The family says they died under circumstances that they believe highlight systemic failures in Florida’s healthcare and legal systems.
Patricia Ann Washington passed away on May 8, 2023, from sepsis after undergoing what her doctor, affiliated with USF Health of the University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital, reportedly described as a “dirty surgery.”
Her sister, LaShawn Washington, died on Oct. 21, 2021, from an IV fluid overload that caused her weight to spike by 30 pounds in a single day, leading to fatal complications.
The family has filed lawsuits seeking accountability for both deaths, but court orders issued by Florida judges Melissa Polo and Steven D. Merryday have allegedly blocked the personal representative of the sisters’ estates, Angela Washington DeBose, from suing USF Health for wrongful death.
Angela DeBose has also filed separate lawsuits against the University of South Florida (USF), Greenberg Traurig, P.A., and Florida Polytechnic University, accusing them of orchestrating her unlawful termination. She alleges the universities used state funds to facilitate discriminatory practices and silence complaints, citing a pattern of misconduct against 5–10 women, predominantly women of color.
The family claims these legal barriers expose a darker side to Florida’s reputation as a “law and order” state, a term frequently used by Governor Ron DeSantis.
According to DeBose, the state’s judicial system has been complicit in preventing their voices from being heard, raising questions about transparency and accountability in Florida’s political and legal structures.
Advocates argue that this case is emblematic of broader systemic inequities. “This isn’t just about our family—it’s about shining a light on the failures of the system,” said DeBose.
The family’s ordeal will be featured in an upcoming docuseries, aiming to bring attention to what they describe as “extreme and unusual measures” taken to silence complaints and obstruct justice.
