Mistaken Identity - Family Sues for Taking Wrong Man Off Life Support

In April 2019, Chicago police incorrectly identified a nude, unresponsive man with facial injuries as Alfonso Bennett. Officials at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center told Bennett's sisters the injured man was their brother.

When the sisters saw the man in the hospital, they "continually and repeatedly expressed their serious doubts" that he was actually their brother. But hospital staff told them that they didn't recognize him because of his facial injuries. The hospital told them that he needed to be removed from life support. The sisters agreed.

But the patient was not their brother. Rather, the patient was later identified by his fingerprints as a man unrelated to the Bennett family. The family is now suing for negligent infliction of emotional distress.