Government Report Blames Nursing Home for Patient's Death
California nursing home abuse lawyer weighs in on a report released by the South Carolina Department of Health, which blames an Easley nursing home for the death of an elderly resident. According to a Nov. 15 news report in The Easley Patch, 84-year-old Eloise Arnold died on June 30, 2012 as a result of heat exhaustion.
A report from the Department of Health and Environmental Control in South Carolina has cited several deficiencies on the part of a nursing home, which it says, allegedly led to the death of 84-year-old Eloise Arnold. According to a Nov. 15 news report in The Easley Patch, Arnold was found unresponsive at Majesty Health and Rehab on June 30, which was also one of the hottest days of the year. The coroner at the time had ruled that Arnold's death was heat-related, the article states.
The Health Department report says the nursing home was at fault because it allegedly failed to quickly notify the resident, her doctor and family members regarding the situation that was affecting her, according to the article. The news report states that the air conditioning had broken down in one wing and that the temperatures in one resident's room had reached 90 degrees. Police officers who inspected the facility found that the air conditioning was not working at the time, the report states.
The health department's report said this amounted to a "substandard quality of care" and that the nursing home had failed to ensure that each resident was given what he or she needed to maintain a safe and comfortable living environment. Also, according to the report, the nursing home's top administrators were made aware that the heat was extreme in that wing on June 29, but did nothing to remedy the situation.
"I offer my deepest condolences to the family members of Eloise Arnold for their tragic loss," said John Bisnar, founder of the Bisnar Chase personal injury law firm. "They will be in my thoughts and prayers."
Nursing homes have a legal responsibility to ensure that residents are safe and secure, Bisnar says. "To know that the health and safety of the residents is in danger and not do anything about it is outrageous and unacceptable. Nursing homes that put profits ahead of people or treat their residents callously with no regard for their well-being, must be held accountable."
About Bisnar Chase
The California nursing home neglect lawyers of Bisnar Chase represent victims of nursing home abuse and neglect and many other personal injuries. The firm has been featured on a number of popular media outlets including Newsweek, Fox, NBC, and ABC and is known for its passionate pursuit of results for their clients. Since 1978, Bisnar Chase has recovered millions of dollars for personal injury victims including nursing home abuse victims.
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