Elder Law

Nursing Home Lawsuit Filed After Resident Death

By Levin & Perconti

A 2007 death at a nursing home in Rochester, New York has led to a nursing home lawsuit. The suit alleges medical malpractice and wrongful death against the facility whose negligent care led to the death.

The Rochester Post-Bulletin is reporting on the lawsuit, which involved two residents with dementia at the Sunrise Assisted Living Facility. In August 2007, the victim, Donald R. Salli, was found on the floor of the facility with another resident kicking him repeatedly in the back. Mr. Salli also pointed to a large hematoma on his own head, indicating beating in the head and neck area as well.

However, even after this beating, Mr. Salli was not examined by a licensed nurse until seven hours later. Perhaps nervous that they would be reprimanded for allowing the attack to occur, staff members did not seek any emergency care for the injured resident.

The following night, Mr. Salli awoke in severe pain and was finally sent to the emergency room where it was discovered that he had a fractured skull with severe bleeding around his brain along with several fractured ribs. After a week in intensive care, Mr. Salli was released to hospice care and died in early October 2008.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of Mr. Salli challenged the negligent oversight provided by staff members that allowed the brutal beating to occur and the severely inadequate medical care given to Mr. Salli following his attack. As in this case, one negligent act by nursing home staff members is often compounded into others which have deadly consequences for the residents who depend on their care.

Our Chicago nursing home lawyers at Levin & Perconti are experts at rooting out fatal nursing home abuses like that which plagued Mr. Salli. Too often residents are left alone for too long, leading to harmful interactions that could have been prevented. In addition, inadequate nursing home staffing levels and inexperienced care workers can fail to seek proper emergency care for their residents, allowing injuries to develop beyond the point of repair. If you suspect any similar treatment at a nursing home, please contact a nursing home attorney to learn more about what can be done to prevent any further harm.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on July 26, 2010 (boomark / email).