A Massachusetts medical examiner has ruled the death of a man who died after being restrained by Cape Cod Hospital staff as a homicide, the man’s family says.

In a written statement, the family of 35-year-old Daniel Ryan said the victim was held down without being able to breathe for “at least seven minutes,” during an Oct. 9 incident, according to Cape Cod Times.

The incident occurred when Ryan went to visit his wife Jaime at the hospital where he became unruly. Hospital security staff restrained the man who later lost consciousness and died 20 days later at the hospital.

However, officials for the hospital say the medical examiner has not been in communication with the institution since the incident happened. Furthermore, the hospital denies any wrongdoing, as the Ryan’s behavior posed a threat to himself, the staff and innocent bystanders. In addition, the hospital says the family’s estimate on the time of the restraint was “absolutely false.”

The Department of Public Health (DPH) cited the hospital for a federal violation of patient rights upon it findings on interviews with witnesses and surveillance video.

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