Diamond Ranch Academy Faces Civil Lawsuit for Alleged Medical Malpractice Resulting in Teen’s Death
Diamond Ranch Academy, a youth treatment facility in Hurricane, Utah, has filed for dismissal in the civil lawsuit against them for allegations of medical malpractice resulting in the death of 17-year-old Taylor Goodridge.[0] The civil lawsuit was filed on December 30, 2022, by Taylor's father, Dean Goodridge, after his daughter's sudden death on December 20, 2022, while in the care of Diamond Ranch Academy.[1] An autopsy report revealed that Taylor died from peritonitis, an infection of the abdomen tissue, which led to sepsis and caused her vital organs to fail.[0]
Taylor's parents released a joint statement expressing their devastation at learning that their daughter's death could have been prevented had Diamond Ranch Academy provided proper care.[0] They also expressed their disbelief that the State of Utah's Department of Health and Human Services settled with Diamond Ranch Academy without any input from their family.[0] The parents intend to pursue all avenues to hold Diamond Ranch Academy accountable and prevent similar tragedies from happening to other innocent teens and their families.[0]
Diamond Ranch Academy's request for dismissal is based on jurisdictional issues and noncompliance in following pre-litigation procedures.[2] The case is currently pending, and a judge has not ruled on the dismissal request.[3] Taylor's parents are determined to hold Diamond Ranch Academy accountable for their daughter's death and prevent the facility from accepting unknowing students with naive parents so that the owners can continue to earn profits from the misfortunes of its students and their families.
This case highlights the importance of proper care and oversight in youth treatment facilities. Parents should thoroughly research and vet any facility they consider sending their child to and hold them accountable for any negligence or malpractice that leads to harm or death. The State of Utah's Department of Health and Human Services should also ensure that facilities are held accountable for any wrongdoings and that families have a voice in the settlement process. Ultimately, the goal should be to provide safe and effective care for vulnerable youth and prevent tragedies like Taylor Goodridge's death from happening in the future.
0. “Family attorney releases autopsy excerpt of 17-year-old's death at Diamond Ranch Academy” St George News, 22 Apr. 2023, https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2023/04/21/nky-family-attorney-releases-autopsy-results-excerpt-of-17-year-olds-death-at-diamond-ranch-academy
1. “Diamond Ranch Academy files for dismissal of civil case regarding teen's death” St George News, 19 Apr. 2023, https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2023/04/19/nky-diamond-ranch-academy-files-for-dismissal-of-civil-case-regarding-teens-death
2. “Autopsy report shows teen was sick days before she died at Utah treatment center, attorney says” KSL.com, 22 Apr. 2023, https://www.ksl.com/article/50627088/autopsy-report-shows-teen-was-sick-days-before-she-died-at-utah-treatment-center-attorney-says
3. “Teen vomited for days before dying of infection at Diamond Ranch Academy, state finds” NBC News, 21 Apr. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/taylor-goodridge-autopsy-diamond-ranch-academy-rcna80864
