Lansing Personal Injury Lawyer - Nursing Home & Elder Abuse

97-Year-Old Man Dies After Nursing Home Allegedly Ignored Sore on Penis

David Mittleman — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:07:21 GMT

The son of 97-year-old Charles Bradley is suing the Everett Care & Rehabilitation nursing home facility in Everett, Washington after his father’s genitals allegedly disintegrated from penile cancer and ultimately contributed to his death.

According to court documents, Charles Bradley entered the nursing home in 2004 because of the usual ailments associated with old age. He continued to live in the nursing home until two weeks prior to his death on March 31, 2008. He apparently had a sore on his penis, which the hospital staff ignored until he was rushed to the emergency room on March 13, 2008. The injury to his penis was purportedly undiagnosed penile cancer.

The attorney for Bradley’s son argues that Everett Care & Rehabilitation staff allowed Bradley’s injury to worsen for months without care. According to the complaint, staff at the center noticed the wound while changing Bradley’s diaper in November 2007. The staff member who initially noticed the wound notified the care manager, however, that manager failed to notify Bradley’s doctor. Instead, Bradley’s wound continued to fester for the next four months and his genitals continued to disintegrate. Finally, when Bradley arrived at the Providence Medical Center on March 13^th, he was initially diagnosed with pneumonia. However, doctors soon discovered the wound on his penis and determined that he had penile cancer.

The plaintiff’s attorney argues that Everett Care & Rehabilitation violated their promise to care for Charles Bradley. The lawsuit specifically seeks to hold the center accountable for allegedly failing to protect the elderly. Indeed, while the center refuses to discuss specifics on the incident, citing patient privacy concerns, they have not explicitly denied error. In fact, they have already received one citation from the Department of Social and Health investigators for failing to meet quality of care requirements designated by federal laws.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Cold-Related Deaths a Chilling Reminder of Winter’s Danger

David Mittleman — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:30:43 GMT

In many parts of the country, this winter has been brutally cold and snowy. This icy weather is more than a mere annoyance or inconvenience, it can be a fatal force of nature that destroys property and ruins lives. Two recent cold-weather deaths underscore the point.

In Illinois, a bereaved family is suing a nursing home after 89-year-old Sarah Wentworth was found dead in the facility’s outdoor common area on February 5. Tragically, Ms. Wentworth froze to death in the bitter Chicago-area cold. The circumstances surrounding the incident are suspicious, as family members claim that Ms. Wentworth was too weak to have left the building on her own. No criminal charges have been filed at this time, but the facility has evidently been investigated by the Illinois Department of Public Health a dozen times in the past year.

This sad case from a nearby state brings to mind the Bay City, Michigan, man who froze to death in his own home last month. Ninety-three-year-old Marvin Schur died "a slow, painful death," according to the Oakland County medical examiner. What makes his story so shocking - indeed, worthy of the national media attention it has received - is the fact that Mr. Schur froze to death after Bay City Electric Light and Power restricted his use of electricity due to unpaid bills. The utilities provider installed a "limiting" device, which shuts off power if consumption is too high and must be reset. It is unclear whether 93-year-old Mr. Schur had been shown how to reset the device. What is clear is that the temperature in his home was below 32 degrees when his body was found.

While the young and the elderly are particularly at risk for cold-weather injuries, they can happen to anyone. Outdoor activities in chilly weather can quickly deteriorate into a fight for survival. Be alert for the signs of hypothermia and take immediate action if you suspect you or a friend is suffering from the condition.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman