The Minnesota Supreme Court issued a notice on Monday that it will not review the State Court of Appeals’ decision to reinstate a wrongful‑death lawsuit filed by the mother of 3‑year‑old D‑Angelo Pitchford. The ruling means the case against Olmsted Medical Center in Rochester can proceed to trial.

Background of the case

In February 2022, D‑Angelo Pitchford died after being taken home from the emergency department of Olmsted Medical Center against medical advice. Court records indicate the child suffered severe dehydration and complications from a congenital hernia that can cause intestinal blockages.

The trial court had dismissed the lawsuit, finding the plaintiff failed to establish a “chain of causation” linking the hospital’s actions to the child’s death. The appellate court disagreed, concluding that expert witnesses for the family satisfied the causation requirement and that their testimony should be considered by a jury.

Allegations against the hospital

The family’s experts allege the emergency‑room physician and staff were negligent for two primary reasons:

• Failing to notify law‑enforcement of the child’s critical condition, which could have provided an opportunity to stabilize him and obtain a full diagnosis.
• Allowing the father to leave the hospital despite the child’s dire medical state, after the father signed discharge paperwork that warned the child could die if not returned to the ER.

According to the experts, these lapses contributed directly to the fatal outcome and therefore meet the legal standard for medical malpractice.

Criminal charges against the father

Separately, Darius Pitchford, the child’s father, faces second‑degree manslaughter and felony neglect charges. Prosecutors allege he removed his son from the emergency department roughly four hours before the mother discovered the child dead at home.

Medical records cited in the criminal complaint show the child had a high white‑blood‑cell count, dangerous electrolyte imbalances that could affect the heart, and signs of kidney failure. The father initially refused blood draws, later relented, and the tests revealed the serious conditions.

Witnesses reported that Pitchford claimed the ER staff were lying to him about his son’s condition. He signed discharge paperwork that explicitly warned the child could die if not returned to the ER, yet he left the hospital against medical advice.

Next steps

The wrongful‑death suit will now move forward, giving a jury the chance to evaluate the expert testimony and determine whether Olmsted Medical Center bears liability for the child’s death. The criminal case against the father is scheduled for trial next March.

Both proceedings underscore the importance of adhering to medical advice in emergency situations and highlight the legal avenues families can pursue when they believe a hospital’s actions have contributed to a tragic outcome.

Original reporting: News Talk 1340 KROC-AM – News and Talk – Rochester News Radio — read the source article.