Most people carefully consider their options when placing a loved one in the care of a nursing facility. Finding the right home with a caring staff is crucial in providing peace of mind for the individual taking up residence and the family as well. Should something go wrong, the consequences can be devastating, leading to feelings of guilt and anger for those who made the placement decision. A retired army lieutenant colonel recently died after suffering injuries at a Pennsylvania nursing home, and the family is considering a wrongful death civil claim.
The 84-year-old man fell in his room and hit his head on the floor. A nurse later found the elderly man and alerted supervisors. The victim had open wounds to his shoulder and temple. The patient was alive at the time he was found and subsequently placed in a wheelchair and taken to the lobby for observation. Around 7 a.m. he was found dead.
A 30-year-old licensed practical nurse has been charged with neglect of care and tampering with records. She claims that the only thing she is guilty of is tampering with the records related to the incident. The nurse claims she had no part in any of the events that led up to the death of the resident, or the events that occurred subsequently.
Making the decision to place a loved one in a nursing care facility is not an easy task. Finding that the decision made may have led to the injury or death of one’s family member is understandably devastating. A Pennsylvania attorney can assist families in understanding what happened and how to proceed with legal recourse, including a wrongful death claim when appropriate.
Source: philly.com, “Nurse charged in death of H.R. McMaster Sr. at Cathedral Village“, Harold Brubaker, May 10, 2018