Nurses Strike KILLS Three Patients

Nurse in scrubs and mask outside hospital holding clipboard.

The ghosts of a 2023 nurses strike are haunting New York City as fresh accusations emerge that union walkouts directly caused three patient deaths, including two newborns, turning labor disputes into life-or-death battlegrounds.

Story Highlights

Lawsuit claims 4-month-old Noah Morton died during 2023 Mount Sinai strike due to inexperienced replacement nurses botching a critical procedure
Union critics allege three total deaths occurred during the strike, including two newborns during childbirth and one adult ICU patient
Current 2026 strike involves 15,000 nurses in largest NYC hospital walkout in history, reigniting debate over patient safety
Mount Sinai fired three nurses before the 2026 strike for alleged sabotage, while union claims retaliation against safety advocates

When Strikes Turn Deadly

Noah Morton was fighting for his life in Mount Sinai’s neonatal intensive care unit when nurses walked off the job in January 2023. The 4-month-old with a heart condition needed a routine PICC line insertion during the three-day strike. What happened next has become the centerpiece of a wrongful death lawsuit that exposes the lethal risks of hospital labor disputes.

According to the lawsuit filed by Napoli Shkolnik, inexperienced replacement nurses punctured Noah’s lung during the procedure, leading to his death. The hospital called it “natural causes,” but internal analysis later admitted the standard of care was not met. Attorney Joseph L. Ciaccio argues the death was entirely “preventable” if qualified staff had been present.

The Broader Body Count

Noah’s case represents just one of three alleged strike-related deaths at Mount Sinai in 2023. Critics cite two additional newborns who died during childbirth and a 24-year-old ICU patient, though these cases lack the detailed documentation of the Morton lawsuit. The claims have resurfaced as ammunition against the current 2026 strike, the largest in NYC history involving 15,000 nurses.

Post-strike investigations vindicated some union concerns. Arbitrators fined Mount Sinai millions for chronic NICU understaffing, and state medical authorities launched probes. Yet the direct causal link between strikes and deaths remains disputed, with hospitals maintaining they provided adequate replacement coverage while unions argue chronic understaffing created the crisis conditions.

History Repeating With Higher Stakes

The 2026 strike dwarfs its 2023 predecessor in scope and acrimony. Mount Sinai preemptively fired three labor and delivery nurses for allegedly hiding supplies and sabotaging equipment, claiming video evidence of the misconduct. The New York State Nurses Association calls it retaliation against new mothers who spoke out about safety concerns.

Both sides have escalated their rhetoric. Union President Nancy Hagan accuses hospitals of slandering workers while prioritizing CEO profits over patient care. Mount Sinai CEO Brendan Carr denounces “unacceptable” intimidation of non-striking nurses and vows to support the 20% of staff who crossed picket lines. Hospitals have spent over $100 million on temporary replacements.

The Real Cost of Labor Wars

The fundamental question isn’t whether unions have the right to strike, but whether hospitals can maintain life-saving care during walkouts. The Noah Morton case suggests replacement nurses, however well-intentioned, cannot immediately replicate the expertise of experienced NICU staff. When split-second decisions determine whether babies live or die, there’s no margin for on-the-job training.

Yet nurses argue they’re striking precisely because chronic understaffing already compromises patient safety. They point to pre-strike penalties against Mount Sinai for inadequate NICU coverage and claim hospital executives earning 12,000% more than frontline staff have created the crisis. The tragic irony is that both sides claim to be fighting for patient welfare while patients potentially suffer the consequences.