February 13, 2025
Eddie Bernice Johnson’s successor in state Senate says she will likely be remembered as a ‘shero’ of Texas

State Sen. Royce West additionally says he doesn’t count on Eddie Bernice Johnson’s household’s lawsuit towards a Dallas healthcare system will ever go to trial.

DALLAS — When reacting to former Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson’s demise, state Senator Royce West, D-Dallas, didn’t mince phrases.

“And to lose her life as a result of she didn’t obtain high quality care is simply an indictment on our healthcare system right here,” Sen. West advised us on Inside Texas Politics.

Johnson, a longtime consultant of North Texas within the U.S. Home, died Sunday, Dec. 31, at 89.

Johnson’s household is alleging that ‘medical negligence’ led to her demise, particularly pointing to an an infection developed throughout a rehabilitation keep on the Baylor Scott & White Institute of Rehabilitation.

A replica of the previous Congresswoman’s demise certificates shared at a latest press convention lists the reason for her demise as osteomyelitis of the lumbar backbone. Osteomyelitis is an an infection in a bone, in accordance with the Mayo Clinic.

The household’s legal professional despatched a pre-lawsuit discover to Baylor Scott & White Well being System and the Institute for Rehabilitation.

In an announcement in response to the allegations, a Baylor Scott & White Well being spokesperson stated, “Congresswoman Johnson was a longtime buddy and champion within the communities we serve—she is an inspiration to all. We’re dedicated to working immediately with the Congresswoman’s relations and their counsel. Out of respect for affected person privateness, we should restrict our feedback.”

The discharge additionally famous that the rehab facility is owned and operated by Choose Medical Holdings Corp. in Pennsylvania however carries the Baylor Scott & White identify.

The connection between Choose Medical Holdings and Baylor Scott & White was unclear. Choose Medical launched an announcement, saying, “Out of respect for affected person privateness, we’ve got no remark right now.”

West advised us he thinks there will likely be a major settlement between the hospital and the household, and he doesn’t count on the case will ever go to trial.

“How on the planet, if every part is true what has been stated, how might you permit, not solely Eddie Bernice Johnson however a affected person, unsupervised for an prolonged time frame, I feel primarily based on what was being stated, over an hour? It’s unfathomable. This is not going to go to trial,” stated West

Eddie Bernice Johnson was first elected to the U.S. Home in 1992, turning into the primary registered nurse within the chamber. She retired final 12 months after greater than 30 years within the Home.

Within the early ’70s, she was a member of the Texas Home of Representatives, the primary Black lady from Dallas ever elected to public workplace.

After that, Johnson served three phrases as a state Senator.

Senator Royce West succeeded Johnson in District 23 when he was first elected to the Texas Senate in November 1992.

West says early in his profession, Johnson gave him a ebook that helped him understand the essence of politics.

“She additionally stated I’m going to show you the best way to drink their whiskey, which I don’t drink, eat their meals, and nonetheless vote towards them,” West recalled. “And so, she taught me that lesson you permit individuals to have entry, however you don’t permit the entry to show round (and) make a distinction because it pertains to what you suppose is the very best curiosity of the district or the state.”

Sen. West says the previous Congresswoman’s legacy will loom massive over the state shifting ahead.

“Her legacy will likely be one in every of, like I stated, being considered in the identical vein as a Girl Fowl Johnson or different heroes and sheroes of the state of Texas. That she was an individual that desired to make sure that girls’s rights was on the entrance burner. She was an advocate round this nation, round this world, for girls’s rights,” stated West.