NOVI — State health and law enforcement officials are investigating the death of an elderly woman and a series of medical emergencies involving several dialysis patients who received treatment at a DaVita Dialysis Center in Novi, prompting the facility’s temporary closure and a statewide investigation.

The investigation began on Sunday, June 21, after a 71-year-old woman failed to return home following her scheduled dialysis appointment. Police later found her dead inside her vehicle.

The Novi Police Department said the cause of death remains under investigation and that, at this time, there is no evidence suggesting criminal activity.

As investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death, they learned that Henry Ford Providence Hospital in Novi had admitted four additional patients who had received dialysis treatment at the same facility. One of the patients was admitted to the intensive care unit, while the others required emergency medical treatment after experiencing sudden medical complications following their dialysis sessions.

Authorities also confirmed that a fifth patient was transported to the hospital after receiving treatment at another DaVita dialysis center in Southfield.

Officials emphasized that investigators have not established a direct link between the patients’ medical conditions and the dialysis treatments. However, the close timing of the incidents prompted state and local authorities to expand the investigation and implement precautionary measures while the cause of the illnesses is determined.

As a result, the DaVita Dialysis Center in Novi has been temporarily closed. Meanwhile, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) have launched independent investigations to review the clinic’s medical procedures and determine whether any safety or regulatory violations occurred.

One patient who was hospitalized said he became severely dizzy shortly after completing his dialysis treatment before his condition rapidly deteriorated, requiring emergency medical care.

He also expressed concern that the hospitalization could jeopardize his place on the kidney transplant waiting list, where he has been waiting for nearly two decades.

Another patient criticized what she described as the limited information provided to patients following the clinic’s closure, saying she does not intend to return for treatment there because of the uncertainty surrounding the incident.

In a statement, DaVita said it is aware of the situation and is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigations. The company declined to comment on the specific circumstances of the case, citing patient privacy, but said the safety and well-being of its patients remain its highest priority.

The results of the official investigations and laboratory testing are still pending and are expected to determine whether the patients’ illnesses share a common cause and whether they are connected to the dialysis treatments or to another factor that remains under investigation.