The family of the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson has accused the Baylor Scott & White health system of neglect following her recovery from a September back surgery.
The Johnson family intends to sue the health system, asserting that her treatment at a Baylor Scott & White rehabilitation hospital contributed to her death at the age of 89.
After undergoing back surgery, Johnson was recuperating at the Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation in Dallas.
On September 21, Johnson’s son discovered her in distress, lying in her own waste, after repeatedly pressing the call button for assistance without receiving any response.
Three days later, medical notes revealed that one of Johnson’s surgery scars began to exhibit significant discharge, with laboratory reports indicating a connection to feces.
The family’s lawyer, Les Weisbrod, sent a pre-suit notice letter to Baylor Scott & White, a required step before filing a lawsuit, and expressed hope for a settlement, according to a report by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
After addressing the infection, Johnson moved to a skilled nursing facility on October 18 before returning home for hospice care on December 18.
She was the first Black member of Congress from Dallas and the initial registered nurse to serve in Congress.
A spokesperson for Baylor Scott & White stated their commitment to collaborating with the Congresswoman’s family and their counsel while respecting patient privacy.
Baylor Scott & White is the largest nonprofit healthcare system in Texas, operating 51 hospitals statewide and ranking among the major healthcare providers in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
