Grief-stricken mom was told her son was dead for three days before hospital admitted he was in fact alive, lawsuit says

Sign up for our US Editor's Picks newsletter to get all the biggest exclusive stories Published: 13:38 EDT, 4 October 2026 | Updated: 13:53 EDT, 4 October 2026 A mother mourned her son for three days after a hospital told her that he had died, when he in fact was still alive, according to a recent lawsuit. Marlene Garbowski, of New Jersey, filed a civil complaint against Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas on Wednesday, alleging that the hospital and its staff were negligent and caused her emotional distress. The mother claimed that she called Southern Hills in November 2024 to request medical documents for her son, Geoffrey Garbowski, to help him apply for Supplemental Security Income benefits. But staff at the hospital told Marlene that they could not release Geoffrey's records because he was a 'deceased patient,' the lawsuit said.Marlene was devastated by the false news and 'paralyzed by grief,' according to the complaint. She did not learn that her son was actually still alive until three days later, the lawsuit said. 'During this three-day period, Ms. Garbowski generally was unable to get out of bed, was paralyzed by grief, and was unable to function in her day-to-day life,' the complaint said. It also alleged that the mom felt 'compelled' to take prescribed anti-anxiety medication for the first time in her life 'in an effort to cope with the emotional distress caused directly by Southern Hills’ false statement.' The lawsuit further alleges that after a few weeks, Marlene received a call from a complaint manager at Southern Hills who acknowledged the mistake and apologized, calling it a 'learning tool' for staff. A mother is suing Southern Hills Hospital in Las Vegas, alleging that the hospital caused her emotional distress by saying her son had died when he was actually still alive The lawsuit, filed by Marlene Garbowski, alleges that she 'was paralyzed by grief' for three days before finding out her son was alive. A grieving woman is pictured (stock image)The complaint argued that the call amounted to an admission of wrongdoing on the hospital's part. In a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Southern Hills said: 'Our team is committed to the highest standards of care and service, and we have confidence in the professionalism and dedication of our colleagues.''The information we have reviewed indicates that an error occurred in a process handled by a third-party vendor, and the allegations do not fully reflect the circumstances. Because this matter is the subject of pending litigation, we are unable to comment further.' The Daily Mail has reached out to the hospital for further comment.Marlene is seeking at least $15,000 in compensation, as well as additional damages to be determined through court proceedings, according to the lawsuit. The civil complaint lists negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress as its causes of action. It states that Southern Hills failed in its 'duty to exercise reasonable care in the accuracy of information.' It further highlighted that Nevada law 'requires hospitals to maintain accurate, properly filed, and readily retrievable medical records, and to employ sufficient qualified personnel to ensure that patient information is accurately and promptly communicated.'The Daily Mail has reached out to Garbowski's attorney for comment.