Etats-Unis : un homme meurt d'une constipation sévère, neuf kilos de selles retrouvés dans son côlon
After not having a bowel movement for several weeks, a man died of severe constipation in the United States. The 41-year-old American, who suffered from several health problems, resided in a nursing home in Ohio. His family has filed a lawsuit.
The signs were alarming. James Stewart, a 41-year-old American with intellectual and behavioral disabilities, lived in a group home in Ohio. But on November 15, 2024, he was found unresponsive in his room. Rushed to the nearest hospital, he was pronounced dead.
The forensic pathologist later explained that the 41-year-old man's colon was blocked by hardened stool that "weighed over 20 pounds," or about nine kilograms. "This caused pressure inside his intestines which forced air through the intestinal walls and into his body cavities," the family's lawyer, Mr. Mooney, told The Independent.
Before his death, the man who loved music and concerts as well as swimming and sports competitions "had not had a bowel movement for a period ranging from several weeks to a month."
A complaint filed by the family
Following his sudden death, James Stewart's family reacted by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. They asserted that his death could have been "entirely preventable."
According to the official report reviewed this week by The Independent, the 41-year-old man died after alarming signs were ignored. His chronic constipation was, however, "perfectly identified" by the facility where he resided, especially since he was taking medication known to cause significant gastrointestinal problems.
Even worse, shortly before his death, James reportedly complained repeatedly of abdominal pain and constipation. Staff members themselves observed a man who was "dejected, without energy," with a "swollen" stomach and bruises on his abdomen.
According to Mr. Mooney, the home's responsibility is beyond doubt. "They should have been very careful to check if James was defecating, and they simply didn't," he lamented, before concluding: "James should not have died. If he had been treated with dignity and respect, this would never have happened."
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