Released patient, 38, dies of heart attack in hospital's waiting room and his body isn't found till the next day



On June 26 Melvin Dillard called 911 complaining of chest pains and was rushed to hospital.



After running tests, doctors dismissed Dillard that same day. But the 38-year-old never made it home.



The following day he was found dead, sitting in a chair in the hospital’s ER waiting room. Rigor mortis – the stiffening of muscles after death – had already set in.

Awful: Melvin Dillard, 38, died of a heart attack in a hospital waiting room just hours after doctors sent him home on the evening of June 26. His body was not found until the following morning

Dillard’s family are now suing the company that own the hospital for medical negligence and wrongful death.

According to the lawsuit, Dillard was rushed to Beebe Medical Center’s ER, in Lewes, Delaware, on June 26 and was told he could go home.



While apparently waiting for a bus home in the ER waiting room, Dillard suffered a heart attack and died sometime between early Tuesday evening and 10am the next morning, which is when staff found his body.



The family, who are seeking damages, argue that because of Dillard’s symptoms and history of cardiac issues, he should have been kept at hospital for observation, reported Delaware Online.

In a statement released on Thursday, hospital officials said Dillard 'was seen, treated appropriately following all protocols and was discharged in stable condition. While sleeping in the lobby waiting for a ride, the individual passed away.'

Investigation: Hospital officials said that Dillard's death was ¿fully disclosed¿ and investigated

A spokesperson for Beebe Medical Center said that the incident was ‘fully disclosed’ and investigated.



Court papers show that Dillard called 911 on June 26 complaining of chest pains and arrived at the hospital by ambulance at 5.33pm.



It was noted that the 38-year-old was showing signs 'consistent with an impending cardiac event' and, according to the lawsuit, he had an abnormal EKG - a test which looks at the electrical activity of the heart.



Dillard was later discharged from the hospital and told to follow up with his cardiologist, the suit says.



As he had arrived by ambulance, Dillard had no way of getting to his Newark home so was waiting for transportation in the ER waiting room.



When staff found Dillard’s body the next morning, he was rushed back into ER where he was pronounced dead.



By the time he was discovered rigor mortis – which happens several hours after death – had already begun.

