Patient-21

A young man named Miles was misdiagnosed and his care was mismanaged at Sunrise Hospital. He died of colon cancer, but his family only found the truth because they paid for a private autopsy.

This is for all the doctors who treated our son, Miles, and to Sunrise Hospital, where he spent the last 8 months of his life. About 25 doctors were involved in his care.

We give ZERO stars to Sunrise Hospital and its doctors.

We want nurses to also read his story so such a tragedy never happens again.

We have begun the process of holding the hospital and its doctors accountable.
 
Miles is forever 23. In March 2024, he became ill. Initially, he thought it was the flu. Doctors suspected Crohn's disease but could not confirm. On 4/17/24, he had surgery for an ostomy due to abdominal blockage; he had been vomiting toxic waste. He lost blood but stabilized with transfusions and was discharged 5/5/24. He was also diagnosed with stage 3 chronic kidney disease.
 
By July, gastroenterologists suspected a motility issue but remained uncertain. On 8/12/24, Miles was hospitalized again for critical sodium and potassium levels. He couldn't eat, lost weight, and his ostomy stopped working.

On 8/29/24, emergency surgery revealed an infiltrating mass they insisted was benign tissue. He was placed on TPN. His weight dropped from 155 lbs to 93 lbs.

Despite his severe condition, doctors tried repeatedly to discharge him.

On 10/4/24, we were told discharge was happening, but that night Miles aspirated and needed intubation.
 
Over the next month, he endured 2 intubations, a tracheostomy, severe bleeding, a stroke, and several other procedures.

Doctors admitted they had no answers and told us Miles would not survive.

On 11/1/24, at the age of 23, Miles died at Sunrise Hospital with us by his side.
 
The coroner refused an autopsy, so we paid for a private one.

Results (12/31/24) showed Miles died of metastatic adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells --- an aggressive form of metastatic colon cancer that had spread to every organ in his abdomen. His death certificate listed a different cause.

Records show a surgeon noted a colon mass during the 4/17/24 surgery, but it was ignored. The "benign" mass found on 8/29/24 was actually cancer. Miles died without ever knowing he had cancer or being given a chance to fight it.
 
Miles died of cancer, never having the chance to fight his cancer and never even knowing he had cancer. We are beyond angry and devastated. Heartbroken. Discouraged. Disappointed. People need to be held accountable and no other family should go through this.

Doctors failed him, ignored warning signs, and never tested him for cancer despite Nevada's documented rise in young patients with cancer.

We filed complaints while he was hospitalized but received no meaningful response. Insurance and hospital leadership also failed to intervene.
 
Our grief is unbearable. His room and belongings remain untouched. We cry daily, talk to him, and hold his blanket. Miles was our only child for 13 years, and our bond was irreplaceable.

Doctors missed his cancer, robbed him of his life, and destroyed ours. We want them to feel the weight of this loss, to learn, and to be held accountable.
 
Case Manager, Margie, repeatedly pushed for discharge despite his critical state --- even once while he was on life support. We will never forget her lack of compassion.
 
To the nurses: many showed kindness, especially the ostomy nurses and ICU/burn unit staff. Special thanks to Tippy, who was with us when Miles passed.

But some lacked empathy, notably Rachel and Scott, who judged our son instead of caring for him.
 
We hope all medical staff learn from Miles's story. We will fight for justice, honor his memory, and live the life he was denied.

I have filed a complaint against the 25 doctors who cared for Miles with the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners. I have also filed a complaint with Joint Commission against Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas.

I have filed a grievance with the insurance company, and I am working on a few other complaints as well. We have talked with several lawyers for malpractice. Unfortunately, the medical system and the laws in Nevada protect the doctors and not the patients. But we will not give up in finding justice for Miles.

Sunrise Hospital and its doctors get ZERO stars. Time will tell if accountability follows.

A Pathologist Shares 10 Reasons Why You Should Get a  Get a Private Autopsy

Here are 10 reasons to get a private autopsy according to Licensed Pathologist Dan Lingamfelter of Postmortem Pathology, a company headquartered in Woodland Park, Colorado, that offers Private Autopsies to all 50 states

1.      Accurate Cause of Death. A private autopsy provides a precise determination of the cause of death, a crucial element for legal advisors and insurance companies involved in resolving cases where clarity is paramount.

2.      Uncover Undiagnosed Conditions. By identifying undiagnosed medical conditions, a private autopsy assists in understanding familial health patterns, potentially guiding future healthcare decisions for surviving family members.

3.      Complementary Investigation. A private autopsy offers an independent investigation that can supplement official findings, enriching the overall understanding of the circumstances surrounding a death.

4.      Legal and Insurance Claims. Concrete evidence from a private autopsy can be pivotal in settling legal and insurance claims, ensuring that proceedings are grounded in fact rather than assumption.

5.      Discover Medical Malpractice. Private autopsies have the potential to reveal medical malpractice or errors in prior treatment, providing a basis for legal recourse and accountability within the medical community.

6.      Contribute to Medical Research. The findings from a private autopsy contribute to ongoing medical research and a broader understanding of diseases, benefiting public health initiatives and scientific inquiries.

7.      Offer Peace of Mind. For families, a private autopsy delivers clarity and closure, offering definitive answers that alleviate uncertainty and provide peace of mind during difficult times.

8.      Enhance Public Health Data. Private autopsies support the accuracy of death certificates and contribute valuable data to public health statistics, aiding in the assessment of population health trends.

9.      Flexible Arrangements. A private autopsy can be scheduled at a time and location that best suits the family’s needs, offering a personalized service that respects individual circumstances.

10.   Trusted Medical Oversight. Engaging a chosen medical professional in the autopsy process ensures transparency and builds trust, as families can rely on an expert whose judgment aligns with their values and expectations.

In a landscape where the stakes are high, be they legal, emotional, or medical, private autopsies stand as a testament to the pursuit of truth and understanding, providing critical insights that serve all parties involved.