A lawsuit filed in federal court claims that a woman who passed away in February should not have been released from a hospital in Tennessee. Despite her requests for additional assistance, she was made to leave the hospital and was not accompanied by security guards or police during a medical crisis.

On Thursday, the 60-year-old Lisa Edwards’ son filed a lawsuit against the city of Knoxville, a security company, specific officers and security guards, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, its parent company, and a physician group.

The release of a video by the Knoxville Police Department in early 2020, which showed officers accusing Edwards of pretending to have mobility and breathing issues and disregarding her pleas for assistance, caused widespread public anger.

According to the lawsuit, Edwards relied on a wheelchair due to a disability resulting from a previous stroke.

On February 5, 2023, security personnel at the hospital contacted the police after Edwards, who had been assessed and released, refused to leave. The Knoxville News Sentinel reported that three officers from the city’s police department were identified and reprimanded in a lawsuit filed in Knoxville.

Chief of Police, Paul Noel, expressed his embarrassment and concern about the video of the encounter. He also acknowledged that Edwards deserved better treatment from the police.

The District Attorney’s office in Knox County chose not to pursue criminal charges against the officers. An autopsy revealed that Edwards died from a stroke and that there was no evidence that her interaction with law enforcement had any role in her death.

In addition, the hospital stated that it completed a comprehensive internal inquiry into Edwards’ treatment and determined that her medical care and release from the hospital were in line with standard medical practices.

The hospital has announced that they are implementing changes to their security protocols. Some of the security officers who were present during Edwards’ removal are no longer employed at the facility. Additionally, both the hospital and its parent company, Covenant Health, have revealed their intention to provide empathy training for their security guards.

According to the lawsuit, Edwards was forcibly taken by hospital security guards while wearing paper scrubs and placed under arrest in freezing temperatures of 29 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 1.7 Celsius).

Police released a video showing a 25-minute struggle as officers attempted to transfer Edwards into a police van and then a cruiser. Edwards continually requests assistance, but is met with resistance from both officers and hospital security guards who grow frustrated with her inability to enter the van and accuse her of faking her physical limitations.

Once she is put in a police car, footage captures Edwards attempting to sit up multiple times, but eventually she falls out of view. A few minutes pass, and one of the officers makes a traffic stop on another car while Edwards stays in the backseat.

Upon opening the back door, Edwards does not appear to be responsive. He contacts dispatch for an ambulance and mentions, “I am unsure if she is pretending or not, but she is not responding to me.”

The next day, Edwards was declared deceased at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.

According to the lawsuit, this was a medical emergency that started and worsened while on hospital premises and could have been prevented and treated without a doubt.

The lawsuit, consisting of 18 counts, asserts that the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, the Fourth and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act were all violated. It also accuses a plot to infringe upon federal civil rights and breach of state laws, including a claim for wrongful death.

A representative from Covenant Health refused to provide a statement regarding the legal action. A spokesperson from the city of Knoxville also declined to comment.