Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
It is worth noting that situations similar to those described in this elder abuse case could just as easily occur at any of the healthcare facilities in the area, such as Kaiser Permanente, UC Davis Medical Center, Mercy, Sutter, or any skilled nursing facility.
(Please also note: the names and locations of all parties have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the participants in this personal injury case and its proceedings.)
From March 1, 2007 to September 2, 2007, Ms. Hill was fully ambulatory without any assistive devices. As a result of Universal’s failure to devise and implement an effective plan of care to address Ms. Hill’s fall risk, she suffered five falls at the facility. During the fifth and final fall on September 2, 2007, Ms. Hill fell to the ground and immediately exhibited signs and symptoms of a hip fracture. Emma never walked again.
A community mobile x-ray was performed on Ms. Hill on September 2, 2007, which stated no evidence for fracture but that acute insufficiency fracture may not be seen in the presence of diffuse osteopenia. The same report noted that Ms. Hill had severe diffuse osteopenia. As the Court will hear, everyone agrees that this x-ray result was questionable and inconclusive and did not rule out fracture. Given this, the facility was required to carefully monitor Ms. Hill for signs and symptoms of a fracture on every shift after her fall. The evidence will show that the facility utterly failed to carry out this responsibility. For more information you are welcome to contact Sacramento personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.
When Ms. Hill — who was previously walking laps around the facility — was unable to walk a full day after the fall, the facility was obligated to notify the doctor and get Ms. Hill medical care. Everyone will agree to this premise, including Universal’s Station 4 supervisor (Anne Smith), Universal’s nurse expert, and Universal’s physician expert.
The facility egregiously ignored Ms. Hill’s immobility and pain and left her there without medical attention for four days without notifying a doctor. Even then, the facility got a bone scan which was not scheduled for another three days, and then sent Ms. Hill to the wrong hospital which added an additional two days of delay. Ultimately, Ms. Hill did not have surgery until September 11, nine days after her fracture. Plaintiffs’ geriatrician expert will testify that this delay was a significant contributing factor to Ms. Hill’s death on October 11, 2007 (discussed further below). All experts will agree that the delay in securing medical care for Ms. Hill harmed her.
(See Part 3 of 20.)
For more information you are welcome to contact Sacramento personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.