A grieving mother has taken legal action against a prominent healthcare provider, alleging medical negligence that led to her daughter's untimely death. On April 29, 2025, Darica Hollins filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, against Dr. Tobin Efferen, Sinai Health System Holy Cross Hospital, and Sinai Medical Group. The lawsuit accuses these entities of failing to provide adequate medical care to Zmaya Bell, who tragically passed away on March 24, 2021.
The plaintiff's daughter, Zmaya Bell, was just 18 years old when she sought treatment at Holy Cross Hospital on March 21, 2021. According to the complaint filed by Hollins through Townsend Law Group LLC, Bell presented with severe symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and had a sibling who tested positive for the virus. Despite exhibiting critical signs such as low blood pressure and tachycardia during her emergency room visit under the care of Dr. Efferen and physician assistant Donald Gold, P.A., essential blood work was never performed. Shockingly, Bell was discharged despite being medically unstable. Her condition deteriorated rapidly after discharge, leading to her readmission and subsequent death due to cardiopulmonary arrest.
Hollins claims that Dr. Efferen breached his duty of care by discharging Bell prematurely without conducting necessary tests or monitoring her condition adequately. The lawsuit cites multiple instances of negligence including failure to admit Bell when her condition warranted it and not following hospital protocols for patients with unstable vital signs. "The lack of timely medical intervention directly resulted in my daughter's suffering and eventual death," Hollins asserts in her filing.
The legal action seeks justice under both the Illinois Wrongful Death Act and Survival Act. Hollins is demanding compensation exceeding $50,000 for each count along with court costs from Dr. Efferen and the affiliated healthcare institutions—Sinai Health System Holy Cross Hospital and Sinai Medical Group—holding them accountable under theories of respondeat superior and apparent agency for their employee's actions.
This case underscores significant allegations against healthcare providers concerning patient safety standards during emergency care situations amidst a pandemic backdrop. The outcome could have broader implications on how hospitals manage similar cases moving forward while highlighting systemic issues within emergency medicine practices.
Representing Hollins is attorney Calvin A. Townsend II from Townsend Law Group LLC based in Homewood, Illinois; they are determined to ensure accountability through this litigation process before Judge Matiyana T Spyropoulos overseeing Case No: 2025L005697.