Family alleges negligence led to infection, painful death of pioneering Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson
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Pioneering Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson died on Dec. 31, allegedly due to medical negligence during her care at a Dallas rehab facility.
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Her family claims she was left lying in her own feces for over an hour, leading to an infection and "terrible, painful death."
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Johnson was the first Black nurse at the Dallas VA hospital in 1956 and later became the first Black state senator representing Dallas.
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She served 15 terms in Congress beginning in 1992, chairing the Congressional Black Caucus in 2001 before retiring last year.
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The rehab facility called Johnson an "inspiration" but cited privacy laws in not commenting on the family's allegations.