Michigan neurosurgeon sues Hurley Medical Center after infant's death

A Michigan neurosurgeon is suing Hurley Medical Center, alleging the Flint hospital lost track of a 12‑month‑old patient admitted with a traumatic head injury on Dec. 9, 2022, and retaliated against him after he raised concerns about the child’s care. Dr. Sudesh Ebenezer filed the complaint in federal court on Oct. 6, asserting the hospital’s failures contributed to the infant’s death the following day and that Hurley subsequently sought to shift blame to him.

According to the complaint, Ebenezer was called in on the night of Dec. 9 after the child’s admission. When he arrived, he says routine diagnostic testing and stabilization had not been completed. The filing alleges staff did not perform a head CT scan despite being advised to do so, did not obtain coagulation studies to assess bleeding risk, did not correct elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the blood, and did not obtain timely chest imaging. As Ebenezer prepared for surgery, hospital staff told him the child had been transferred to another facility; the complaint says that was inaccurate and that the patient remained at Hurley because staff had lost track of the child.

The complaint states the child died on Dec. 10....