Woman Declared Dead, Still Breathing in Morgue

WILMINGTON, Del. -- A woman and her husband are claiming in federal court that doctors and staff at Beebe Medical Center did not provide adequate care and were negligent when they declared her dead from a heart attack.

Louis and Judith Johnson of Georgetown are suing the Lewes hospital and hospital personnel.

According to the plaintiffs, Louis Johnson brought his wife to the hospital in May 2007 believing she had a bad case of indigestion.

Turns out, she was having a heart attack.

Johnson says he was told an hour later his wife was dead.

Then someone at the morgue noticed Johnson’s “corpse” was still breathing.

The Johnsons' attorney, Leon Aussprung says Judith Johnson suffered permanent brain injuries and other complications.

Beebe officials would not comment on the pending lawsuit.