Appleton hospital denies wrongdoing in patient's death

APPLETON (WLUK) -- Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital denies any wrongdoing in connection with the death of Grace Schara, who died at the facility in October 2021.

Schara's family -- which has posted multiple billboards about the case -- claims the doctors and nurses who cared for the 19-year-old during a hospitalization, violated her patient rights when they listed her as a DNR, or do not resuscitate, without consent. They also say she was given a lethal cocktail of drugs that led to her death. And when family members asked for doctors to step in and save the young woman, they did nothing.

In a 19-page response filed Monday, Ascension St. Elizabeth denied each of the family’s claims. Among the other statements by the hospital:

• Any and all injuries or damages sustained by Plaintiffs may be a direct and proximate result of the negligence and/or decisions made by Plaintiffs.
  
  
• Plaintiff’s condition may have been the result of natural disease progression beyond the control of, and unrelated to the acts, omissions or conduct of Defendants.
  
  
• Plaintiff’s condition may have been the result of pre-existing conditions beyond the control of, and unrelated to the acts, omissions or conduct of Defendants.

Ascension also notes the statute of limitations may have expired, precluding the suit from continuing. The hospital asks for the lawsuit to be dismissed.

No hearings have been scheduled.