Texas Resident Sues Princess Cruise Lines After Medical Malpractice Aboard Discovery Princess Leads to Passenger Death
Charles Pierce, a resident of Texas and the Personal Representative of the Estate of Dawn Michele Pierce, has filed a maritime wrongful death lawsuit against Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. and Dr. Fiorenzo Sciolla in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-21068-DPG, alleges that Dawn Michele Pierce passed away as a result of negligent medical care and a failure to properly diagnose life-threatening infections following a fall aboard the Discovery Princess.
Cruise Passenger Suffers Fatal Infection After Slip and Fall in Stateroom Shower Aboard Discovery Princess
According to the complaint, the incident began on February 3, 2025, when Dawn Michele Pierce slipped and fell while exiting the shower in her stateroom. She landed in the tub in an awkward position and remained seated in a pool of water for an extended period while waiting for medical assistance, which caused significant softening and maceration of the skin on her feet. The lawsuit alleges that when crew members finally arrived to move her, they improperly allowed her feet to drag across the floor. This friction caused her macerated skin to tear and bleed, creating open wounds. Although she was taken to the shipboard infirmary, the plaintiff alleges that Dr. Sciolla provided only simple wound care with antibiotic ointment and discharged her despite observing skin avulsions and an elevated white blood cell count that suggested an early infection.
Medical Staff Accused of Dismissing Worsening Symptoms and Cognitive Changes Following Shipboard Injury
In the days following the initial injury, the condition of the passenger’s left foot and leg continued to deteriorate. Her husband, Charles Pierce, reportedly observed that her feet were still bleeding and that her skin was falling off. Furthermore, he noted significant cognitive changes in his wife. Although medical staff visited the stateroom to change dressings, the complaint alleges that they repeatedly dismissed the husband’s concerns regarding the worsening wound and his wife’s declining mental state. The lawsuit asserts that Princess failed to provide further testing or advanced medical care during this critical window, even as the infection progressed. By February 7, 2025, the passenger became unresponsive and was finally rushed back to the medical center.
Princess Cruise Line Alleged to be Vicariously Liable for Doctor Malpractice and Misdiagnosis of Sepsis
The complaint details a harrowing medical timeline, alleging that when the passenger finally reached a shoreside hospital via medical evacuation, she was diagnosed with Group B Streptococcal Bacteremia and Cellulitis. She was found to be in a state of sepsis with associated encephalopathy. Despite receiving extensive inpatient care, the passenger never recovered and subsequently passed away. The plaintiff brings multiple counts of negligence against Princess Cruise Lines, arguing that the company is vicariously liable for the actions of its medical staff under theories of respondeat superior, actual agency, and apparent agency. The legal team argues that Princess exercised significant control over the medical department by setting hiring standards, providing equipment, and even using “Face to Face Telemedicine” to monitor shipboard care, yet failed to ensure the staff met the acceptable standard of care.
Lawsuit Cites Prior Incidents as Evidence of Princess Cruise Lines Failure to Warn Passengers of Inadequate Medical Care
A significant portion of the lawsuit focuses on the cruise line’s duty to warn. The plaintiff alleges that Princess knew or should have known that its medical staff was incapable of providing the “full-time, professional emergency medical attention” promised in its advertising and the Cruise Industry Passenger Bill of Rights. To support the claim of constructive notice, the legal team references prior lawsuits involving similar allegations of medical mismanagement and failure to diagnose aboard other Princess vessels, such as the Emerald Princess and the Majestic Princess. The complaint suggests that Princess intentionally conceals the frequency of such incidents through confidential settlement agreements, preventing passengers from understanding the true risks associated with relying on shipboard medical facilities for serious conditions.
Estate Seeks Damages Under Death on the High Seas Act for Negligence and Loss of Life
The lawsuit seeks various forms of compensation under the Death on the High Seas Act and other applicable survival acts. These damages include pecuniary losses, funeral expenses, loss of support, and the loss of the value of the cruise itself. The plaintiff argues that the medical treatment provided aboard the Discovery Princess fell below the prevailing professional standard of care and that a timely diagnosis or medical evacuation would have likely prevented the passenger from becoming septic and succumbing to her injuries. The complaint concludes that the medical department was operated for profit as a “floating hospital” and that the cruise line is responsible for the professional negligence of the doctors it holds out as its own officers and crew members.
Contact a Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today if You Suffered Inadequate Care Aboard a Vessel
Passengers who suffer from medical negligence, misdiagnosis, or delayed treatment while on a cruise ship may be eligible for significant compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines have a duty to provide reasonable care and must ensure that the medical staff they employ are competent and capable of handling emergencies. If you or a loved one experienced a worsening condition due to substandard shipboard medical treatment, contact our team of experienced maritime injury attorneys today. We can help you navigate the complexities of filing a claim against a major cruise line and ensure your rights are protected.
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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.
