Family Member Passed In Motorcycle Accident In 2021. Today, We Received Medical Record From The Accident Completely Different From What We Were Told.

Location: CA

My family member passed in a motorcycle accident in 2021 in southern CA. They struck a disabled vehicle on the freeway. It was in a semi remote area, no major medical facility nearby. They initially dispatched a helicopter and then at some point called it off. At the time, we were informed that they were alive and being taken to a hospital via ambulance. A couple hours later, we get a call that they had passed away from the accident.

Fast forward to today, we received certified mail from the hospital with an account of the accident and treatment. Up to today, we had very little idea of their condition from the accident until passing or what had transpired at the trauma center. It was explained to us that they were unconscious/unresponsive but alive before ultimately succumbing to their injuries. Note that this was a series of phone calls received as it was happening. We never desired to inquire with the hospital immediately following their passing because it didn’t matter, they were gone and that was hard enough to deal with. Requesting the finer details didn’t seem like useful errand at the time. We assumed they would send a report but didn’t expect it four years later. The report states that my family member was not only conscious, but talking. To the point that they were ‘combative’ and ‘trying to leave’. This is a very strange thing to say about someone who ‘died from their injuries’. To me this is a sign that although they may have been seriously injured, they were alert and obviously in a severe state of shock. I admittedly don’t know much about medicine or trauma treatment, but the hospital elected to sedate him. He passed right after being sedated. From my limited research, sedation of a trauma victim is very dangerous and can ultimately be the cause of death for a plethora of reasons. Respiratory depression, hypotension, drug interactions, pre-existing conditions, etc.

Perhaps I’m emotional, but this just doesn’t sit right. I’ve been grieving this loss mostly through pure ignorance, believing that my family member was unconscious and not in any pain from the accident to passing. Knowing that they were not only conscious, but alert and communicating makes me think that sedating them may have ultimately caused their demise. It just doesn’t make sense why this information took four years to be disclosed, especially given how much it alters our account of the accident. I’m posting in this sub because of the timing and potential malpractice. Why are we only hearing about this now? In order to get the body released, the POA provided documentation immediately after the passing. Is the hospital required to disclose the medical records at that time? How do you go from trying to leave the hospital to sedated/dead? Should I be following up in any capacity here?