Florida Passenger Alleges Royal Caribbean Negligence After Medical Emergency on Freedom of the Seas Cruise
According to the allegations, Brown, age 59, boarded the cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to celebrate his sister’s sixtieth birthday with family members. Around the fourth day at sea, Brown began experiencing severe respiratory distress and visited the ship’s medical center. Despite reporting serious breathing issues and his history as an insulin-dependent diabetic, the ship’s doctor allegedly misdiagnosed his condition, discharged him back to his cabin, and failed to initiate an evacuation to shore-based medical care even as his symptoms worsened.
Passenger Duron Brown Files Personal Injury Lawsuit Against Royal Caribbean for Failure to Diagnose and Evacuate During Caribbean Cruise
In a newly filed complaint, Florida resident Duron Brown has sued Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleging severe medical negligence during a seven-night Caribbean cruise aboard the Freedom of the Seas. The complaint, filed on April 20, 2025, seeks damages for bodily injury, emotional distress, and permanent impairment resulting from the cruise line’s failure to properly diagnose a critical medical condition and failure to timely evacuate him to a hospital.
Brown’s health rapidly deteriorated, culminating in what his family described as a near-death experience onboard. Upon the vessel’s return to Fort Lauderdale, Brown was rushed by ambulance to the Broward Health Trauma Center, where emergency physicians expressed shock that the ship had not evacuated him sooner. He was diagnosed with acute respiratory failure, pneumonia, ketoacidosis, and COVID-19, requiring intensive care and prolonged hospitalization.
The lawsuit claims that Royal Caribbean’s negligence in both diagnosing and evacuating Brown caused him to suffer permanent injuries, significant emotional trauma, and ongoing medical expenses.
Legal Analysis: Cruise Line Liability for Medical Negligence Under Maritime Law
Brown’s lawsuit asserts two counts of negligence grounded in the general maritime law: negligent failure to diagnose and render proper treatment, and negligent failure to evacuate. Under maritime law, cruise lines owe passengers a duty of reasonable care under the circumstances, which extends to the actions of shipboard medical personnel when providing medical services.
A Florida cruise injury lawyer evaluating the case would note that, while cruise lines are not strictly liable for the malpractice of ship doctors, they may be held vicariously liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior when medical personnel are employees of the cruise line. Brown’s complaint specifically alleges that the medical staff acted within the course and scope of employment, positioning Royal Caribbean as directly responsible for their conduct.
Failure to promptly evacuate a critically ill passenger also constitutes a recognized breach of duty. Courts have found cruise lines liable when they negligently delay medical evacuation, exacerbating the passenger’s injuries. Brown’s severe decline while waiting days for the ship to return to port will likely be central to establishing causation and damages.
Royal Caribbean’s defenses may include arguments that the ship’s medical center was appropriately equipped for its intended purpose and that decisions regarding evacuation involve discretionary judgment under difficult conditions. However, contemporaneous reports of shock by trauma center physicians may undercut such defenses.
Trend and Policy Analysis: Increased Scrutiny of Cruise Line Medical Practices Following COVID-19 Era
This lawsuit fits into a broader trend of heightened scrutiny over the adequacy of cruise line medical facilities and procedures, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Courts and regulators alike have emphasized the critical need for timely diagnosis and evacuation of seriously ill passengers to prevent avoidable deaths and injuries.
Litigants increasingly assert claims not just for negligent treatment but for delay in evacuation decisions, reflecting an industry expectation that cruise lines must have protocols in place for medical emergencies. As the cruising public grows more aware of their rights, lawsuits like Brown’s highlight the need for cruise operators to ensure that onboard medical teams are properly trained, resourced, and empowered to act decisively when passengers’ lives are at risk.
Call a Florida Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one suffered serious injury due to medical negligence or delayed evacuation aboard a cruise ship, it is critical to understand your legal rights. Contact a Florida cruise ship injury lawyer today to discuss your potential claims under maritime law.
