California Resident Sues Princess Cruise Lines Following Delayed Medical Evacuation and Fatal Stroke Aboard Majestic Princess
Anthony Marino Brambilla, acting as the personal representative for the estate of his late wife Pamela Jean Brambilla, has filed a significant maritime wrongful death and survival action against Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-25892-DSL, alleges that the cruise line’s medical and non-medical staff failed to properly diagnose and timely evacuate Mrs. Brambilla after she began exhibiting clear signs of a stroke while the vessel was docked in Mexico.
Princess Cruise Line Accused of Misdiagnosing Passenger Stroke as Dehydration During Port Call in Puerto Vallarta
The legal complaint details a tragic series of events that began on October 28, 2024, during a ten-day voyage from Los Angeles. While the Majestic Princess was docked in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Pamela Brambilla began experiencing severe neurological symptoms, including slurred speech, chills, vomiting, and loss of bowel control. Despite these hallmark indicators of a cerebrovascular accident, the ship’s primary physician allegedly diagnosed the passenger with simple dehydration. The lawsuit asserts that although the ship was docked in a port with multiple hospitals capable of providing emergency neurological care, the medical staff made the critical decision to keep Mrs. Brambilla onboard rather than disembarking her for immediate shoreside treatment.
Negligence Lawsuit Alleges Fatal Delay in Medical Disembarkation and Failure to Coordinate Emergency Evacuation
According to the filing, the ship’s medical personnel decided to sail to the next scheduled port in Mazatlán rather than seeking local aid in Puerto Vallarta. During the overnight transit, Mrs. Brambilla’s condition deteriorated significantly. Documentation from the ship’s own medical logs allegedly showed worsening symptoms, including right-sided facial drooping, lethargy, and a decreased Glasgow Coma Scale score. It was not until more than five hours after she first presented to the clinic that the diagnosis was updated to reflect a stroke and the ship’s captain was notified to increase speed. By the time the vessel arrived in Mazatlán and Mrs. Brambilla was finally transferred to a hospital, twelve hours had passed since the initial onset of symptoms.
Lawsuit Claims Princess Cruise Lines Breached International Cruise Line Bill of Rights Regarding Emergency Medical Attention
The plaintiff alleges that Princess Cruise Lines breached its duty of care in several ways, including a violation of the International Cruise Line Bill of Rights. This industry standard guarantees passengers the right to professional emergency medical attention and the right to disembark a docked ship if essential medical care cannot be adequately provided onboard. The complaint argues that the cruise line’s shore-side Fleet Medical Operations in Miami had the capability to monitor and intervene in the situation via telemedicine but failed to ensure a prompt evacuation. Furthermore, the lawsuit claims the cruise line failed to contact the United States Coast Guard or Mexican naval authorities to facilitate an emergency air or boat evacuation while the ship was in transit.
Estate Seeks Damages for Wrongful Death and Pain and Suffering Following Nine Months of Intensive Neurological Treatment
The delayed treatment allegedly resulted in catastrophic and irreversible brain damage. After being stabilized in Mexico, Mrs. Brambilla was transferred back to California, where she spent the next nine months in various intensive care units and skilled nursing facilities. She underwent multiple surgeries, including a craniectomy and the placement of a feeding tube and ventilator. Despite these efforts, she passed away on July 11, 2025. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for medical expenses, funeral costs, mental anguish, and the loss of companionship. The plaintiff brings counts for general negligence, vicarious liability for the actions of both medical and non-medical personnel, and negligence based on apparent agency.
Contact a Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice Lawyer if a Loved One Suffered Due to Delayed Treatment or Evacuation
When a medical emergency occurs at sea, cruise lines have a legal obligation to provide competent care and make sound decisions regarding emergency evacuations. If a cruise line physician fails to recognize life-threatening symptoms or if the crew refuses to disembark a passenger for essential shoreside care, the consequences can be fatal. Families impacted by cruise ship medical negligence or wrongful death deserve to understand their rights under maritime law. If you or a family member experienced a medical crisis that was mishandled by cruise ship staff, contact our team of maritime injury attorneys to discuss your case and potential for recovery.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship medical negligence attorney.
Disclaimer: Our firm does not represent the plaintiff in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.
