Mother of Juggalo Shane Barnett sues hospital, doctor

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The mother of Shane Barnett is suing the Hardin County Hospital and Dr. Kimberly Birch charging they contributed to Barnett's wrongful death Aug. 16, 2007, during The Gathering of the Juggalo's event, the Hardin County Independent reported today.

Barnett was taken from the event on the Hog Rock Campground at Cave-In-Rock to the Hardin County Hospital for treatment of heat exhaustion and dehydration. His body was found in a creek in a rural area outside the campground after his discharge from the hospital.

Hardin County Sheriff's Deputies transported Barnett from the hospital in Rosiclare back to the entrance to the festival, but Barnett did not enter and instead walked up the road.

A search commenced when Barnett did not return to his friends in a reasonable time.

The suit contends Barnett was released from the hospital prematurely, still suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration, and was confused.

"That the defendant, Kimberly Birch, violated said duty in that she discharged the patient at a time when his heat exhaustion and dehydration had not been treated, and discharged him from the emergency department at a time when she was not aware and could not have been aware of his condition, and at a time, due to the heat exhaustion, when he was still confused and thus not mentally competent," the suit claims.

Barnett's mother, Debora Beckner, administrator of Barnett's estate, is asking for judgment against the hospital and doctor for the wrongful death of Barnett and for pain and suffering he was caused to endure, the suit contends.

Beckner is asking for a judgment in excess of $50,000.