This is an interesting article about one of the earliest pioneers in the area of nursing home abuse, nursing home neglect, nursing home injury and nursing home wrongful death litigation. It is an interesting read, although a fair picture is not presented with respect to some of the quotes from this pioneer's opponents. Nursing home cases often involve serious cases of neglect, leading to totally preventable harm such as pressure sores, dehydration, malnutrition, infections, falls, broken bones (including particularly broken hips), joint dislocations, and death. For more information on nursing home cases in North Carolina (including, but not limited to nursing home medical malpractice cases in Raleigh, Wilmington and Fayetteville), go to www.pleasantlaw.com or call Toll Free 888.435.7156. - 1 - 10
A recent blog post details about a woman who has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Sunbridge Care and Rehabilitation Center, Sunbridge's parent company and one of its former administrators, alleging that Sunbridge's medical negligence killed her father Ray Combs. Mr. Combs was a resident at Sunbridge Dunbar from April 2004 through December 2005. According to the filed court papers, this nursing home resident suffered from all sorts of problems, including pressure sores, malnutrition, pneumonia, dehydration, multiple bone fractures, contractures, weight loss. Although this was not a North Carolin nursing home abuse case, Sunbridge does operate nursing homes throughout North Carolina.
- 2 - 10A nursing home abuse lawsuit has been filed by the family of an elderly woman. The lawsuit is reported in an article in a major metropolitan newspaper, and alleges the nursing home failed to protect this lady from being sexually assaulted by another nursing home resident who was mentally ill. The lawsuit allegs that the nursing home administrator tried to cover up a terrible rape by labeling it as sex that was consensual. according to the plaintiff's lawyer. He says this case is the most "flagrant" nursing home abuse case he has ever been involved with. For more information on nursing home abuse, nursing home wrongful death, or nursing home injury in North Carolina, contact The Law Offices of Thomas Waitt Pleasant for a case consultation and/or evaluation. Toll Free 888.435.7156.
- 3 - 10Kindred Healthcare's (which operates nursing homes and hospitals in North Carolina) profits rose 55 percent in the first quarter of 2009 Apparently, Kindred managed its costs a little more closely, especially labor (nursing home staffing and staffing in hospitals is probably the single biggest budget line item). Net income was $22.8 million, or 58 cents per share, compared with $14.7 million, or 37 cents per share, a year earlier. Income from continuing operations, which doesn't include unprofitable hospitals and nursing homes the company has sold, was 57 cents per share, compared with 42 cents per share in the first three months of 2008.
- 4 - 10This article recounts some details of a recent nursing home abuse and neglect trial and verdict. The victim was killed by the abuse and neglect of a nursing home. Specifically, the nursing home failed to keep this nursing home resident adequately hydrated. The resident became dehydrated and died. The nursing home patient was not capable of remembering to drink water, and therefore relied on the nursing home staff (nurse's aids, etc.) to ensure he was adequately hydrated. He died within fifteen days of his admission. The jury awarded money for the nursing home resident's pain and suffering before his death, and also to his family for his wrongful death. - 5 - 10
Before its conclusion, the Bush administration cut off a crucial repository of information about abuse and neglect in nursing facilities and other long-term care facilities that are critical to support people's cases against those nursing homes. This change was basically done "on the sly" and without even most attorneys involved in handling cases against nursing homes knowing it. The rule's practical effect is to sheild nursing home inspectors' reports from general public access, requiring the attorneys for victims of nursin home injury, abuse and wrongful death to go to much greater lengths, often impractical, to get to the truth. - 6 - 10
A North Carolina nursing home may be ordered to pay up to $50,000 in fines for safety violations leading to the death of one of its residents, an Alzheimer's disease patient. The Charlotte Observer reports that the Five Oaks Manor in Concord did not properly monitor this 87-year-old nursing home patient, failing to keep her from wandering onto a loading dock, from which she fell. This publicized example of nursing home neglect will hopefully raise public awareness about the likely cause of this type of incident: understaffing. Contact North Carolina nursing home injury and wrongful death attorney Thomas Pleasant if you have concerns about nursing home abuse or neglect in North Carolina (Raleigh, Wilmington, Fayetteville, or anywhere else in North Carolina). - 7 - 10
A recent online study indicates that nursing homes that take proactive steps (to include tests, medications, etc.) can reduce hip fractures for their nursing home residents. - 8 - 10
Congress is looking at what some consider to be the most crucial nursing home law in 20 years. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Ranking Republican on the Finance Committee, and Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging (Two of Congress’s leading supporters of nursing home reform), have introduced the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act. Read more via this link to the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform. Take action to support this bill, so that nursing home victims and nursing home injury, abuse, neglect and wrongful death lawyers can hold the nursing home industry accountable.
A North Carolina medical negligence case was filed last month in Davidson County Superior Court. This North Carolina medical negligence lawsuit accuses Thomasville Medical Center (a hospital) of medical malpractice, and alleges that the medical mistkaes lead to the death of a child in 2007. The lawsuit names the emergency doctor, Novant Health of the Triad, Forsyth Memorial Hospital and Thomasville Emergency Services PA.
- 10 - 10Wilmington, NC Office
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