Woman found alive at funeral home after being pronounced dead by doctors

A 74-year-old woman, Constance Glantz, was found breathing at a funeral home in Waverly, Nebraska, just two hours after being pronounced dead at a nearby nursing home. The incident has left authorities and medical professionals scratching their heads, highlighting the importance of careful examination in declaring death.

According to reports, nursing home staff declared Glantz dead and transported her to the funeral home, where staff discovered she was still alive and performed CPR. She was then rushed to a local hospital for further care.

The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident, but Chief Deputy Ben Houchin stated that they have found no evidence of criminal intent by the nursing home.

Houchin called the case “very unusual,” stating that he has never seen anything like it in his 31 years of service. He explained that Glantz had been in hospice care, and her death was anticipated.

A physician had seen her in the last seven days and was willing to sign the death certificate, and there was nothing suspicious at the time of the death.

Dr. Stephen Hughes, a senior lecturer in medicine at Anglia Ruskin University’s School of Medicine, notes that such cases are rare but emphasizes that “death is a process.”

He explains that sometimes somebody may look like they’re dead but are not quite dead, and careful examination is necessary.

Doctors typically look for heart sounds or breathing effort for at least a minute before declaring someone dead, and some drugs can also slow down body processes, giving someone the false appearance of having passed away.

Glantz’s current condition is unknown, but her family has been notified, and the funeral home staff handled the situation with care. This rare case highlights the importance of vigilance in medical care and the need for careful declaration of death.