Split Pennsylvania Court Upholds Hospital Immunity in Death Suit

St. Luke’s Hospital of Bethlehem can’t be held liable for negligence claims tied to its treatment of a patient’s pressure ulcers because the care falls under Pennsylvania’s Mental Health Procedures Act immunity protections.

The hospital’s actions regarding Kenneth Wunderly’s pressure ulcers—which his wife asserted caused or contributed to his death—constituted treatment under the statute because it was “‘coincident’ to his mental health treatment for dementia,” the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said in a Thursday opinion.

Kenneth Wunderly was admitted to St. Luke’s to be treated for his “aggressive and combative behavior” related to his dementia. Wunderly had preexisting pressure ulcers, ...