08-05-2025
Family sues KC-area hospital, claims assault led to patient death
A woman's family is suing a Kansas City-area medical center for negligence, claiming it failed to prevent a sexual assault that they say led to her death.
The victim was receiving treatment at Saint Joseph Medical Center, 1000 Carondelet Drive, on March 16, 2024, for septic arthritis, according to court records.
In the early hours, Stanley J. Antoine was allegedly allowed to walk into the hospital, visit several floors and steal one patient's phone before arriving on the victim's floor. Antoine later pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and two counts of stealing.
Court documents say Antoine was not approached or questioned by staff before entering the victim's room, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her. She screamed for help and he hit her nose, causing it to bleed.
Family said in court documents that the victim received severe and continual injuries from the sexual assault, including injuring her nose, PTSD, pain, suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life, which they said contributed to her death on April 7.
The victim's family argues in court documents that the hospital had a duty to care for the victim, including providing a safe environment, and breached that by negligently hiring, training and supervising its employees, as well as failing to prevent abuse and have proper security measures in place.
The family is asking for a trial by jury and a minimum of $50,000.
