Medical professional under investigation in New Mexico for potential medical malpractice leading to the demise of celebrated 'Star Trek' actor.
Nichelle Nichols' Death: Family Files Lawsuit Against Gila Regional Medical Center
Nichelle Nichols, the iconic actress who played Lt. Uhura on the original 'Star Trek' television series, passed away on July 30, 2022, in Silver City. According to a lawsuit filed in Grant County, her death was due to acute heart failure.
The lawsuit alleges that Gila Regional Medical Center (GRMC) failed to secure a hospital bed for Nichols upon admission and did not transfer her to a facility with an available bed. It also accuses the hospital's employees of failing to diagnose and treat Nichols properly for her symptoms of acute heart failure.
Nichols was initially admitted to GRMC the day before her death with a diagnosis of acute heart failure. However, she was placed overnight in an observation bed, and no cardiac workup was done. The lawsuit further alleges that GRMC knew or should have known that Millie's Assisted Living Center, where Nichols was later discharged and where she ultimately passed away, lacked the appropriate resources to monitor and care for a patient in her condition.
Ryan Clement, the lawyer for GRMC, has stated that the hospital is cooperating fully with the investigation and denies any wrongdoing in the case related to Nichols' death.
Nichols lived with her son in Silver City in her final years. Before her acting career took off, she worked with NASA to recruit minority and female candidates for the U.S. space program, including Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. Her work helped diversify the U.S. space program, which was previously dominated by Navy test pilots.
One of her most notable achievements was an interracial kiss between her character and Capt. James Kirk, played by William Shatner, in the episode 'Plato's Stepchildren.' Although the claim is disputed, it is widely considered the first interracial kiss in television history. This episode aired just one year after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Virginia law banning interracial marriage.
Nichols initially left the 'Star Trek' series to take a role on Broadway, but she changed her mind at the request of Martin Luther King Jr. Previously, astronauts were primarily Navy test pilots, but Nichols' work helped diversify the U.S. space program.
The trial in the case has been rescheduled for June 2026 before Judge Jim Foy, and the suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Johnson, Nichols' son, chose not to disclose his mother's celebrity status to hospital personnel to ensure fair treatment.
Nichols was a successful stage and screen actor, and one of the first Black women to hold a leading role in a network television series. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of actors and space enthusiasts alike.
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