Man Dies After Hospital Dumps Him on Hot Sidewalk

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Abrazo Health Arrowhead in Phoenix, Arizona, after 27-year-old Kaelen Lachica died following his discharge on August 13, 2025. His parents, Seth and Gayle Lachica, allege hospital staff put Kaelen into a paid Uber and left him at a homeless shelter in triple-digit heat, despite his deteriorating condition.

Kaelen, who had battled anorexia for nearly a decade, was hospitalized for a possible stroke and significant weight loss. In the days preceding his discharge, his condition worsened, characterized by delusions and immobility. The lawsuit states Kaelen struck a nurse and requested to leave against medical advice, but his address was known to hospital staff.

His father was notified of the discharge in the early morning hours. Upon finding his son being attended to by emergency responders performing CPR, Seth Lachica expressed his distress over the hospital's actions. Kaelen was transported to another hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his condition.

The lawsuit contends that Abrazo staff showed a conscious disregard for Kaelen's safety, likening the act to abandoning an incapacitated patron. The family's attorney asserts this decision directly caused Kaelen's death, characterizing it as more than mere negligence or malpractice.