California investigators believe that nursing home negligence may have caused the death of an 83-year-old man, who died from head injuries that were not properly assessed or treated by nursing home staff. According to an Associated Press news report, Lakewood Manor North in Los Angeles received an AA citation – the most severe that the California Department of Public Health issues. The negligence, according to officials, involved a patient who had slipped, fallen and suffered a head injury while trying to move from his bed to a wheelchair in 2007. The resulting head injury was not properly assessed or treated, investigators say. The man ended up dying four days after he fell.
The state’s investigation also found that the facility did not provide safety supports needed to prevent falls. Nursing home administrators have said that this is the facility’s first penalty in its 40-year history and that it has led to “changes in operating procedures.” Class AA citations are handed to nursing homes for the most serious violations or when a resident’s death can be directly attributed to nursing home negligence or abuse. These citations carry fines of $25,000 to $100,000.
My heart goes out to the family of the deceased victim, who apparently died because this Los Angeles nursing home neglected to properly care for him after he fell. Why did he fall in the first place? Why was a wheelchair-bound man trying to get up and walk on his own? Did he call for help before he ventured to get off his bed? How long did he wait for staff to arrive before he decided to get up on his own? What type of safety supports were or weren’t present in his room? How has the nursing home changed its procedures after this incident? All these questions must be answered to really understand the seriousness of the problem here.
Nursing home negligence and abuse has been on the rise for the last several years and these tragic incidents of neglect and abuse only seem to be increasing. At Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, we have represented and continue to represent nursing home negligence and abuse victims and their families. What I’ve observed is that these nursing homes are run like profit-making machines. I’m not saying they shouldn’t make money. All businesses should be able to make money. But, what I have a huge problem with is when a nursing home deliberately keeps its facility understaffed or provides substandard care to increase its profits. This makes me mad as $#&%!
The family of this deceased victim would be well-advised to consult experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorneys, who will pursue the negligent parties and hold them accountable for their actions.