A North Carolina mother says a hospital put her through an unthinkable emotional nightmare after telling her three different and conflicting stories about whether her newborn baby was alive or dead. The case has now turned into a lawsuit, with the mother saying the experience left her with lasting trauma.
Mother Told Newborn Died, Then Was Alive, Then Dead Again
According to a lawsuit filed this week, LaChunda Hunter says doctors at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte first told her that her newborn daughter, Legacy, had died shortly after birth on February 19, 2022.
Hunter says she was devastated but tried to accept the news. Legacy had been dealing with serious medical issues, including breathing problems, jaundice, and an elevated white blood cell count.
Just hours before being told her baby had died, hospital staff had reassured her that Legacy was responding well to antibiotics and was “looking beautiful,” according to the legal complaint.
A Heartbreaking Goodbye
The next day, on February 20, Hunter and her friends were taken to what she describes as a dark, windowless room that looked like a storage space. A nurse handed her a baby said to be Legacy.
The baby was wrapped tightly in blankets, with only part of her face visible. Hunter says there were no medical tubes or equipment, which raised questions later. She and her friends held the baby and cried, believing this was their final goodbye.
After this, Hunter began making funeral arrangements and entered what the lawsuit describes as a deep state of grief.
The Shocking Phone Call That Changed Everything
On February 22, Hunter received a phone call that completely shattered what little emotional stability she had left.
A doctor, later identified as Jay Kothadia, called her sounding excited. According to the lawsuit, he spoke in detail about Legacy’s improving test results and said her condition had “really turned around.” He reportedly said he was “very optimistic.”
Hunter was stunned. A work assistant who was with her shouted into the phone, “You told her that her baby was dead!”
The doctor allegedly hung up immediately, leaving Hunter confused and panicked. She tried calling the hospital repeatedly but received no response.
Hospital Says a ‘Mistake’ Was Made
Later, another doctor, Preethi Srinivasakumar, contacted Hunter and claimed the earlier call was a mistake. She allegedly said the positive test results belonged to another baby, not Legacy.
Hunter questioned how this could be possible, pointing out that the test results matched Legacy’s known health issues. The doctor reportedly said the wrong phone number had been listed in a chart.
The lawsuit claims the conversation became tense. Hunter says she was told that if she came to the hospital looking for answers, security would be called and she could be arrested. She was also allegedly advised to get a lawyer.
Lingering Doubt and Emotional Trauma
Hunter says the hospital’s actions left her unable to trust what she was told. Even today, she claims she struggles with constant doubt over whether her baby truly died.
According to the lawsuit, she now suffers from:
- Severe anxiety
- Depression
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Intrusive thoughts that her baby may still be alive
A DNA test Hunter had done on the child she was given to bury reportedly came back inconclusive. Novant Health told local media that its own testing showed the baby was hers.
Hospital Responds
In a statement to local media, Novant Health said it could not comment on specific cases due to privacy laws but added that it takes concerns seriously and is committed to compassionate care during moments of loss.
