Jakoya Renae Morgan was 19 years old and worked as a certified nursing assistant at Children’s of Alabama, a children’s hospital in Birmingham. In the early hours of May 26, during her night shift, she collapsed. Her own coworkers found her unconscious after 4 in the morning.
She was rushed to UAB Hospital, but by 5 a.m. she had already been pronounced dead. Less than an hour separated the collapse from the end. Deputy coroner Bill Yates confirmed that the exact cause is still under investigation, although he ruled out foul play.
What sparked outrage on social media were the accounts from Jakoya’s family and friends: they say she had said she felt unwell before collapsing and that she was not allowed to go home. The hospital denies this and maintains that it acted with the appropriate life-support measures. She cared for sick children every night. No one was able to care for her in time.
