Florida Woman Sues Princess Cruises After Stroke Goes Untreated Aboard Emerald Princess
Ann O’Malley, a Florida resident, has filed a maritime negligence lawsuit against Princess Cruise Lines in the Southern District of Florida. The case, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-24748, alleges that O’Malley suffered permanent and life-altering neurological injuries after the Emerald Princess failed to recognize and treat her stroke in a timely manner, despite clear and escalating symptoms.
Passenger Alleges Stroke Symptoms Were Ignored by Princess Cruises Medical Team on Emerald Princess
According to the complaint, O’Malley and her husband were a retired couple embarking on a cruise from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale aboard the Emerald Princess on February 6, 2024. Just hours after departure, O’Malley reported to the ship’s medical center with classic signs of a stroke—uncontrollable shakes, dizziness, nausea, weakness, and fainting. Despite these warning signs, the onboard physician allegedly misdiagnosed her with a urinary tract infection and discharged her with antibiotics.
Later that same evening, O’Malley lost consciousness in her cabin and was brought back to the medical center, where she exhibited confusion—a known stroke symptom. Still, the ship’s doctor failed to diagnose her condition correctly and labeled her as “non-urgent.”
Princess Cruise Medical Negligence Allegedly Delayed Lifesaving Stroke Treatment for Days
The next day, O’Malley’s condition worsened as she experienced speech difficulties and cognitive impairment. However, the ship’s physician maintained his septic shock diagnosis and continued administering antibiotics. According to the complaint, it wasn’t until two days later—approximately 48 hours after symptoms first appeared—that O’Malley was finally evacuated to a hospital in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
At the shoreside hospital, an MRI confirmed that O’Malley had suffered an ischemic stroke in multiple regions of her brain. The complaint asserts that the medical center in Mexico was ill-equipped to provide appropriate stroke care, leading to additional delays and ultimately exacerbating her condition. O’Malley remained hospitalized in Mexico for 13 days, during which time she allegedly did not receive the specialized neurological care she required.
Lawsuit Accuses Princess of Failing to Evacuate Stroke Victim or Divert Cruise for Emergency Medical Care
O’Malley’s legal team argues that Princess Cruise Lines had both onboard and shoreside resources available to recognize the severity of her condition and arrange a medical evacuation, potentially through the U.S. Coast Guard. The complaint states that no efforts were made to divert the vessel or expedite her transfer to a capable U.S. medical facility. As a result, O’Malley missed a critical window for stroke treatment, including thrombolytic therapy and mechanical thrombectomy.
The lawsuit details Princess’s marketing claims about having modern medical centers staffed by qualified physicians and asserts that O’Malley relied on those representations when booking the cruise. It further claims that Princess failed in its duty to provide adequate medical care and that both onboard and shore-based personnel negligently coordinated her care.
Princess Cruise Line Faces Multiple Counts of Negligence for Inadequate Stroke Response Aboard Emerald Princess
The lawsuit brings multiple counts of negligence, including claims against Princess for the actions of its onboard medical staff, non-medical personnel, and shore-based operations team. It also alleges vicarious liability under theories of both actual and apparent agency. The complaint asserts that the cruise line’s failure to recognize a medical emergency, provide proper diagnostics, evacuate the passenger, or ensure competent shoreside care all contributed to O’Malley’s catastrophic injuries.
As a result of the delay in treatment, O’Malley now lives with permanent neurological damage, including visual field deficits, impaired speech, and cognitive dysfunction. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, and other associated losses.
Contact a Cruise Medical Negligence Attorney if You Were Injured Due to Delayed or Inadequate Care at Sea
Cruise lines like Princess are responsible for providing competent medical care to passengers who suffer emergencies at sea. Failure to diagnose and respond to urgent conditions such as strokes, heart attacks, or sepsis can lead to devastating consequences. If you or a loved one experienced a delay in medical treatment aboard a cruise ship, you may be entitled to compensation under maritime law.
Contact us today 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.
