The Wrong Goodbye

November 1, 2019 9:42 AM

This is a pretty severe case of mistaken identity. But it happens more often then you’d think. Pro Publica writes about Freddy Williams and Raheme Perry.
posted by SLC Mom (4 comments total)

Oh that's awful.
posted by medusa at 11:25 AM on November 1, 2019 [1 favorite]

Gives me shivers. What a shame.
posted by NotLost at 9:03 PM on November 1, 2019

When my boyfriend's aunt was hit by a car, the coroner insisted on having the hospital keep her dead body hooked up to life support for days while they confirmed that she was *really* my boyfriend's aunt before they would let the hospital honor her sister's wishes to donate her organs. I continue to think that was an absurd waste of money and excessively stressful for her family, but at least I can sort of understand now why they did it...
posted by phoenixy at 11:27 AM on November 2, 2019

Granted, there was some resemblance between the two men, albeit obscured by hospital equipment, but I like to think that my sister would check my leg for the birthmark, or check my big toe to be sure it matched hers. A rudimentary fingerprint would have matched police records in either case.

HIPPAA may protect us a little from scummy insurance providers, but it really doesn't protect anyone who is in no condition to advocate for themselves. These were the disastrous consequences.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 5:42 AM on November 3, 2019