If someone you love received dialysis at the DaVita Dialysis Center in Novi and is now in the hospital, or has died, you are right to want answers.  

State and local authorities are investigating the death of one patient and the hospitalization of several others who had recently been treated at dialysis facilities in Novi and Southfield. Right now, no one has said what caused the harm. 

That uncertainty is exactly why families in this situation should understand their options early. This post lays out what has been confirmed so far, what remains unknown, and how an experienced Michigan medical malpractice lawyer can help your family find out what happened. 

What We Know About the Novi Dialysis Investigation 

Here’s what investigators and news outlets have confirmed: 

  • A patient died. A 71-year-old patient was found deceased in their vehicle after an appointment at the DaVita Dialysis Center in Novi. Police reported no indication of foul play. 
  • Several others were hospitalized. Multiple patients who had recently been treated at the Novi location later sought care at a nearby hospital, including one person in intensive care. Another patient was hospitalized after treatment at a DaVita location in Southfield. 
  • The Novi facility closed. The center closed at the request of the Oakland County Health Division as a precautionary measure while the investigation continues. 
  • Multiple agencies are involved. The Novi Police Department, the Oakland County Health Division, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs are working together on this matter. 

Investigators currently have not established any connection between the treatment patients received and the death or the illnesses. The facility and state agencies have said that they are focused on patient safety, and DaVita has said it cannot comment on specifics out of respect for patient privacy. Nothing has been proven, and no cause has been confirmed. 

If your family member was treated at either location and you are worried, you do not have to wait for the investigation to conclude to ask questions about your rights. You can contact Fieger Law today for a free consultation. 

Why Answers Matter When a Dialysis Center Will Not Explain 

Patients connected to the Novi center have already spoken publicly about feeling left in the dark. One man described feeling lightheaded and confused shortly after his treatment, then collapsing at his home. Another patient said she was moved to a different facility without a clear explanation.  

When something goes wrong, and a provider will not say why or provide more information, families are left trying to piece together the truth on their own. That’s difficult to do without help.  

Dialysis is a complex medical process, and determining whether a patient was harmed by something at the clinic, by their treatment, or by an unrelated condition requires medical records, water and equipment testing data, staffing information, and review by qualified medical professionals. Most families cannot obtain those materials on their own, and a large provider has little incentive to hand them over voluntarily. 

An experienced lawyer can request and preserve that evidence before it disappears. The sooner that process starts, the better the chance of getting a clear, honest account of what happened. 

If you feel you are being kept in the dark about a loved one’s care, the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Fieger Law can help you get answers. Call us today for a free consultation. 

Legal Options for Families After a Dialysis Injury or Death 

If an investigation eventually shows that a patient was harmed by substandard care, families may have legal options. Depending on what happened, those options can include the following: 

  • A Medical Malpractice Claim: When a medical provider’s care falls below the accepted standard, and a patient is hurt as a result, the injured patient may have a malpractice claim. Whether that standard was met is exactly the kind of question an investigation and legal review are meant to answer. 
  • A Wrongful Death Claim: When a patient dies because of someone else’s negligence, certain family members may be able to bring a wrongful death claim on the patient’s behalf. This can help a family recover from their loss and hold a provider accountable. 

It is too early to say whether any of these claims apply to what happened in Novi, because no cause has been established. What you can do now is preserve your family’s ability to act once the facts come in. You may have legal options, and talking to a lawyer early helps protect them. 

To find out whether your family may be entitled to pursue a claim, reach out to Fieger Law for a free, no-obligation consultation. 

How an Experienced Michigan Malpractice Lawyer Can Help 

DaVita is one of the largest dialysis providers in the country, operating around 50 locations across Metro Detroit alone. A company of that size has its own attorneys, insurers, and communications team ready to protect its interests. An injured patient or a grieving family deserves an advocate with the same level of resources and resolve on their side. 

Fieger Law has spent decades holding hospitals, clinics, and large healthcare providers accountable in medical malpractice and wrongful death cases across Michigan. From our office in Southfield, the same community as one of the facilities now under review, we can help your family by: 

  • Investigating What Happened: We can obtain and preserve medical records, facility data, and other evidence before it is lost. 
  • Working With Medical Reviewers: We can consult qualified professionals to evaluate whether the care a patient received met accepted standards. 
  • Dealing With the Providers for You: We can handle communications with the company and its insurers so your family can focus on healing or grieving. 

You pay nothing up front. If you don’t win your case, you pay nothing. That is our promise to every family we represent. 

If your family was affected by treatment at a Novi or Southfield dialysis center, contact Fieger Law today to speak with an experienced attorney at no cost. 

Talk to an Experienced Michigan Malpractice Lawyer Today 

When a routine treatment ends in tragedy and no one will explain why, the uncertainty can feel unbearable. You should not have to fight for the truth alone. Fieger Law has stood up for Michigan families against some of the largest medical institutions in the state, and we are ready to stand up for yours. 

Call us at (800) 294-6673 or contact us online for a free consultation. There is no cost to talk to us, and if you don’t win your case, you pay nothing. Let us help your family find out what happened.