Woman Says She OK’d Life Support Termination for Stranger

NEW YORK (AP) —

A New York City woman says she mistakenly consented to having a stranger taken off life support because he’d been misidentified as her brother, The New York Post reports.

Shirell Powell is suing St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, which contacted her in July about a patient dying from an apparent overdose.

The man, who had the same name as her brother, had a tube in his mouth and a swollen appearance.

Powell, who spent nine days at the man’s bedside, says her sister initially had doubts but they decided the facial features were his, and eventually consented to having him taken off life support.

The medical examiner determined the man’s correct identity.

Her brother was actually in jail. He told The Post that he’s not mad at his sister, but is upset about his family’s ordeal.

St. Barnabas Hospital says the lawsuit is without merit.

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