It was August 13, 2025, at 10:37 in the morning. EMTs tried to save the life of Kaelen Lachica. He was sprawled motionless on a sidewalk in downtown Phoenix. The air temperature was 100 degrees. His body temperature was 107 degrees.
Abrazo Arrowhead Campus Hospital had discharged a disabled patient who was too weak to walk onto a downtown street during a Phoenix heat wave. He was supposed to make it to a nearby homeless shelter on his own.
The tragic death of 27-year-old Kaelen Lachica resulted in a lawsuit filed on behalf of Seth and Gayle Lachica against the Abrazo Arrowhead Campus hospital. Their son, Kaelen, had suffered from anorexia for 10 years, since he was 17.
Kaelen’s anorexia had progressed to a severe state. While anorexia is more common in women, men constitute 10-20% of persons suffering from anorexia nervosa. Anorexia can be one of the most difficult to treat psychiatric illnesses since it impacts virtually every organ system.
The family reported that in the year before his hospitalization, his condition had improved. His father said Kaelen was gaining weight, exercising regularly, and following a daily routine.
But according to the family, everything changed after his hospital admission.
According to the lawsuit, Kaelen’s medical records for the seven days he was hospitalized included at least 39 entries of Kaelen’s physical and cognitive incapacity, including 17 chart entries that he was wheelchair-dependent.
But in addition to anorexia, Kaelen also suffered from Cachexia, a Wasting Syndrome. Cachexia has effects on physical functioning that include: loss of muscle mass; significant weight loss; extreme weakness and fatigue, and the inability to walk. Cachexia also has effects on mental functioning: difficulty concentrating, memory problems, slowed thinking, and poor judgment.
Kaelen’s father, Seth, acutely aware of his son’s vulnerability and frailty, warned the hospital. The medical records from three days before discharge reported that the “father is worried that if patient signs out against medical advice, the patient will end up dead.”
Despite Seth’s warning and even though he held a court-ordered medical power of attorney for Kaelen’s care, Abrazo ignored Seth’s plea. When Kaelen asked to leave the hospital against medical advice, they granted his wish.
The lawsuit reported the actions of the hospital staff.
The lawsuit alleged that nurse Jean Schemm decided to discharge Kaelen that day.
Three hours after he was dropped off in the vicinity of the homeless shelter, the police found Kaelen. A walker was found at the scene, suggesting Abrazo gave Kaelen a walker.
However, the medical records noted 17 times that he was wheelchair dependent. But even if Kaelen had made it to the homeless shelter, he couldn’t meet the admission requirements.
But it was eight hours after Kaelen was discharged, at 3:28 in the afternoon, that Dr. Bewley signed the order approving the discharge. Discharge orders are supposed to be written before a discharge.
Despite medical records documenting Kaelen’s severe impairments, Dr. Bewley wrote that Kaelen “appears to have intact insight, judgment, and reason and in my medical opinion, has the capacity to make decisions.”
Why would a discharge order be written 8 hours after the discharge?
Later, the attending physician co-signed the order concurring with Dr. Bewley’s discharge plan, which sent Kaelen to a homeless shelter, though Kaelen did not meet the admission requirements.
Abrazo Arrowhead Campus Hospital staff had discharged a vulnerable and frail patient to a facility that did not meet the federally required medical and basic care needs of the patient.
The hospital staff ignored the father’s warning that Kaelen would die if discharged against medical advice on his own.
The facts of this case suggest a disturbing disregard for the life of a disabled person by hospital physicians and staff responsible for Kaelen Lachica’s care.
Hospital Watchdog wrote to Abrazo Arrowhead Campus Hospital, asking why Kaelen was discharged to a homeless shelter when he did not qualify for admission.
Abrazo did not respond.
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