Chelsea Adolphus: Family of woman found on Waukegan hospital roof file wrongful death lawsuit
WAUKEGAN, Ill. - The family of a woman who died after she was found on the roof of a north suburban hospital where she was being treated announced a lawsuit against the hospital on Wednesday.
The family of Chelsea Adolphus, represented by attorney Ben Crump, said they filed the lawsuit against Vista Health System in Waukegan.
The lawsuit claims premises liability, negligence and medical malpractice. However, the hospital CEO said Wednesday during his own press conference that he’s confident in how his staff handled the situation.
‘Systematic failure’
What we know:
Adolphus was admitted to Vista Medical Center East on Jan. 22 and she was discovered on a rooftop the next day.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office said Adolphus died of hypothermia after being on the hospital roof for nearly seven hours exposed to the cold in little more than a hospital gown. The coroner said her body temperature was about 50 degrees.
"This lawsuit is an epic case of profits over patients and it is clear that they did not give Chelsea Adophus the medical care that was needed," Crump said. "They failed her in many ways."
Crump called the circumstances that led to Adolphus’ death a "systematic failure" and pointed to the hospital system’s failings. He and Adolphus’ brother also accused hospital employees of lying about where she was found.
"Where were they looking? Did they review their surveillance videos? Why not? Was it because they had to furlough people?" asked Crump on Wednesday.
The hospital CEO, Kevin Spiegel, denies that the recent furloughs, more than 70, had anything to do with Adolphus’ death.
"In this situation, you know, every possible way to provide care to this patient was provided by registered nurses at the bedside of this patient," said Spiegel.
He said they followed protocol when Adolphus went missing and they are now cooperating with the police investigation.
"We're confident that the way the staff handled this situation was 100% appropriate," said Spiegel.

The family of a woman who died after she was found on the roof of a north suburban hospital where she was being treated announced a lawsuit against the hospital.
Adolphus’ brother claims hospital staff lied, first telling him his sister was found a few blocks away.
"My sister never left the facility from when she got there Wednesday. Why look my family in the eye and lie about where my sister was found?" said Paul Adolphus Jr.
On Monday, the Lake County Coroner called into question the hospital’s quality of care and now Spiegel is asking the courts that the coroner be removed from this investigation.