Family says Brooklyn mother died following epidural during labor

Family members, friends and community members rallied outside Woodhull Medical Center Thursday to demand justice for ShaAsia Semple, a 26-year-old woman they claim died after getting an epidural during labor.

News 12 Staff

Jul 9, 2020, 8:26 PM

Updated 1,559 days ago

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Family members, friends and community members rallied outside Woodhull Medical Center Thursday to demand justice for ShaAsia Semple, a 26-year-old woman they claim died after getting an epidural during labor. 
Demonstrators stood outside with signs and chanted Semple’s name, calling for the hospital workers involved to be held responsible for her death. 
The family says the incident happened last Friday and that they were told by the coroner that Semple’s epidural was inserted wrong, causing her heart to stop during childbirth. 
They say she was then given an emergency cesarean section to deliver her daughter, Khloe. 
News 12 reached out to the hospital for the exact cause of death, but the hospital said it couldn't give further information because of patient privacy and confidentiality laws. 
The family says Khloe is living with her father, Juwan, who they say had planned to propose to Semple this weekend. 
A spokesperson at Woodhull Medical Center released a statement saying,"NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull remains committed to the maternal health and welfare of our patients. We are saddened by this death and our condolences go out to the family of the deceased."
The family says that it’s possible that they could be looking into a lawsuit against the hospital, but that for now their main focus is preparing to say their goodbyes. 
A GoFundMe on behalf of the child’s father has raised more than $60,000. 
Semple’s funeral is scheduled for July 24.