Widow files wrongful death lawsuit against Freeman, nurse

A Jasper County woman whose husband died January 16 from injuries suffered when he fell and hit his head at Freeman East while rehabiliating from a head injury filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Freeman Health and a licensed practical nurse today in Jasper County Circuit Court.

The lawsuit was filed by Teresa Ogden, who is represented by Scott Vorhees of the Joplin firm of Johnson, Vorhees and Martucci.

From the petition:

On or about December 29, 2025, Jeffrey Ogden presented to the emergency department at Freeman West. Defendant Freeman Hospital System agreed to provide care and treatment for, and did undertake to care and treat Jeffrey Ogden, who was then admitted to Freeman West.

The medical history provided by Jeffrey Ogden and his family included that the patient had sustained a fall at home and struck his head. The workup included three CT scans of the head, a hospitalist history and physical to accompany the patient's admission, and a neurosurgical consult.

CT scans on three days showed Ogden had a small acute subdural hematoma and he was discharged from Freeman West January 6.

After he arrived at Freeman East for rehabilitation he was "evaluated to be at a high risk for falls," according to the petition.

On January 12, 2026, "Jeffrey Ogden was reported to have fallen in his bathroom at the Freeman East rehabilitation unit, striking his head and losing consciousness."

Ogden was lethargic, slower in his responses than before the fall and nauseous the next morning, the petition said. A CT scan showed "progressive changes of a large subdural hematoma on the right frontal parietal with increasing size and prominence and increased midline shift."

A discharge summary from Freeman East January 13 showed Ogden's condition was "worsening," according to the petition. Ogden was taken from Freeman East to Freeman West where brain surgery was performed.

Ogden didn't recover from the surgery and died January 16.

The lawsuit claims that licensed practical nurse Korina K. Self did not institute the fall prevention strategy that had been ordered by doctors and that led to Ogden's death, did not record his fall and injuries on a timely basis and did not suspend Ogden's oral intake until he could be evaluated by a physician.

Freeman was negligent in not instituting the fall prevention strategies and not having a CT done on a timely basis.