A Washington couple says hospital staff told them to drive four hours with their dead infant in the back seat—and they are now suing for $10 million.
Story Snapshot
- A lawsuit alleges Salem Health told parents to transport their baby’s body themselves, in a car seat or laid flat.
- The complaint says the hospital did not offer morgue storage or proper transport papers for interstate travel.
- Salem Health says it followed the family’s wishes, policy, and Oregon law after consulting the medical examiner.
- The case spotlights gaps in post-death hospital support that many families assume will be handled.
What the Lawsuit Claims Happened
Aleksandr and Nataliya Yeremeyev filed a $10 million complaint in Oregon against Salem Health and several defendants. They allege staff told them to take their infant son’s body home to Seattle in their private car. The complaint says staff suggested placing him in his car seat or laying him flat in the back seat for the four-hour drive. The filing also names Salem Emergency Physicians Service and Dr. Stefani Sorensen as defendants in the case.
The parents say the hospital did not offer to hold the body in the morgue while arrangements were made. They also claim they were given only a handwritten note on a prescription pad rather than proper documents for crossing state lines. The complaint describes the baby as having Down syndrome and serious health issues, and says he died at Salem Hospital after breathing trouble during a family trip in 2024.
How the Hospital Responded
Salem Health says it cannot discuss details because the matter is in litigation. The hospital says it acted according to the family’s wishes and followed hospital policy and Oregon law. It says it consulted local authorities, including the medical examiner. The hospital expressed condolences for the child’s death but declined further comment on specifics while the case proceeds in court.
The current public record rests mostly on the complaint and news reports about it. There is no quoted hospital chart, policy document, or incident report in the public materials. The exact words used in the emergency department, the options discussed, and the reasoning of staff are not yet independently confirmed in public filings. That limits outside review until discovery produces more records.
Why This Struck a Nerve Across the Aisle
Families expect hospitals to guide them through the worst moments in life. When that appears to fail, people on the left and right see a system that forgets basic dignity. This case taps that fear. The image of a father driving hours with his child’s body is searing. It also raises practical questions most of us never consider: who handles paperwork, storage, and transport, and what help should be standard, not optional.
A Washington couple is suing Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics, Salem Health, and a doctor after the death of their infant son, claiming the hospital forced them to drive his body home themselves.
Read More: https://t.co/Cio4bNKJ7u#LiveonKMTR #OregonNews #Salem #Washington
— KMTR NBC 16 (@KMTR) September 23, 2026
Courts often treat mishandling of remains as a dignitary and emotional harm. Outcomes vary by state and by proof of duty and causation. That means this lawsuit could turn on narrow facts: what was offered, what was refused, and what policies or laws applied that day. The early coverage centers the parents’ account. The hospital’s detailed response, if any, will likely come through court filings, depositions, and policy records released in discovery.
What to Watch Next
Key documents could clarify the story: the full complaint with exhibits, discharge paperwork, physician and nursing notes, and bereavement or social work entries. Any morgue and release-of-remains policies in effect at Salem Health will matter. So will statements from the county medical examiner’s office. Expert analysis of Oregon and Washington transport rules may show whether the alleged instructions fit, or broke, standard practice for infant remains.
Sources:
themirror.com, hoodline.com, yahoo.com
