Wife Sues Hospital Over Husband’s Death From Legionnaires’ Disease

The wife of a man who died from Legionnaires’ disease has filed a wrongful death and negligence suit against the Massachusetts hospital where he was a patient when he contracted the disease and the company responsible for the hospital’s water system.

Sydney Mayzer maintains that the alleged failure of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham and HydroTech Services of North Attleboro to maintain and operate a safe water system led to the death of her husband Mark Mayzer, 81, on February 17, 2025. He had been admitted to BID-Needham and treated for an infection consistent with Legionnaires’, discharged from the hospital, then readmitted as symptoms worsened. He was tested several times and further treated, before being transferred to Beth Israel’s flagship hospital in Boston where he died.

Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal bacterial pneumonia of the lower respiratory system with a mortality rate between 15 and 20 percent. Large commercial water systems, like those found in hospitals, are a recognized source of infection.

Mayzer alleges that both the hospital and HydroTech breached their duty of care to Mark Mayzer, and as a direct and proximate result caused him to contract a severe and life-threatening illness.

The hospital had not replied to a request for comment by press time.

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