Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
It is worth noting that situations similar to those described in this medical malpractice case could just as easily occur at any of the healthcare facilities in the area, such as Kaiser Permanente, UC Davis Medical Center, Mercy, Methodist, or Sutter.
(Please also note: the names and locations of all parties have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the participants in this personal injury lawsuit and its proceedings.)
FACTS/CONTENTIONS
According to Plaintiff: Decedent Fernanda Trenton was 78 years old at the time of her admission to defendant Sacramento Hospital on March 1, 2005. Plaintiff’s Alzheimer’s disease led her to wander and have episodes of incontinence. After the death of decedent’s husband, decedent’s daughter, plaintiff Emily Prillmer, concluded that her mother would be safest in an Alzheimer’s wing of a skilled nursing facility. Prillmer arranged for her mother’s admission to Sacramento Hospital on March 1, 2005.
Prillmer claimed that, from March 1, 2005 to September 2, 2005, decedent was fully ambulatory without any assistive devices. She further claimed that, as a result of Sacramento Hospital’s failure to devise and implement an effective plan of care to address Trenton’s fall risk, Trenton suffered five falls at the facility. On September 2, 2005, Trenton fell to the ground and immediately exhibited signs and symptoms of a hip fracture. She never walked again.
Eight days later, Trenton was diagnosed with a hip fracture, and a bedsore was discovered. Although she underwent surgery for the fracture, Trenton died a few weeks later due to an infection from the bedsore.
Prillmer brought an action against Sacramento Hospital and its parent company. Plaintiff Prillmer alleged that defendants recklessly delayed assessing and treating Trenton’s fractured hip and recklessly failed to prevent Trenton’s bedsore. These failures, Prillmer contended, were the consequence of extreme under-staffing at the nursing home and they caused her mother’s death.
For more information you are welcome to contact Sacramento personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.
Plaintiff alleged that the owner of a chain of over 13 nursing homes in California and Utah was guilty of a corporate culture of putting profits ahead of patient care.
Defendants contended that the nursing home staff members acted in a reasonable manner with regard to decedent’s condition after her fall. They further argued that they were not responsible for the bedsore because it occurred after decedent left the nursing home.
CLAIMED INJURIES
According to Plaintiff: Death.
CLAIMED DAMAGES
According to Plaintiff: Wrongful death damages (MICRA does not apply in elder abuse lawsuits); punitive damages.
For more information you are welcome to contact Sacramento personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.