Nursing Home Death

$500,000

Too often our elderly are neglected in nursing home settings. A few examples will show you just how deplorable conditions can be. An elderly dementia patient fell out of her bed onto the floor against the wall. When nurses did the rounds to check on patients, they did not even notice her on the floor until the breakfast call. She had fallen against the wall where the electric heater was and sustained severe painful third degree burns. They elected not to send her to the hospital but called the facility doctor instead who prescribed powerful pain medications in order to give the woman relief. However, the doctor did not take into account that she had severe COPD. The pain medications slowed her respiratory rate down so low that she ended up succumbing. Probate was commenced, the son appointed Administrator of the estate, letters sent and suit commenced against the facility, the doctors and the head nurse. There was no binding arbitration required so the case involved robust discovery.