ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Surveillance Cameras Captures Horrific Abuse
Care Home Patient Abused And Left To Die
Two Caregivers Charges With Murder, Elder Abuse, And Neglect
Often, stories of abuse and neglect of nursing home residents are so horrific they are difficult to read. One such case appeared in the news recently and the only positive takeaway from the story is that an in-room camera allegedly caught the abuse and neglect of the elderly victim and led to the arrest of two caregivers the police are charging as responsible for the victim’s death. We have written before about the usefulness of surveillance cameras and shared the rules regarding installation which you can read here: https://www.evanslaw.com/san-francisco-nursing-home-abuse-attorney-surveillance-cameras-in-nursing-home-rooms/. We represent elderly victims and families in cases of nursing home abuse and pursue all those responsible for the abuse including any owners or administrators and supervisory persons in charge of any caregiver who abuses or neglects patients. If you or someone you know is a victim of nursing home abuse, call the attorneys at Evans Law Firm today at 415-441-8669. Our toll free number is 1-888-50EVANS.
Recent Example Of Fatal Abuse And Neglect[1]
In the recently reported case, two caregivers are charged with murder, abuse, and neglect following the death of an elderly care home patient. According to investigators, the victim had been abused and neglected at the care home where she resided and subsequently died in the hospital as a result of her injuries One of those charged is the owner of the home. According to a release from the District Attorney, officers found a video-recording system that showed in the hours before the victim’s death, she fell out of bed and then for more than two hours was beaten by her caregiver. She was left on the floor while the caregiver sat in a nearby chair. He eventually got her back into the bed and was shown on the video cleaning up the area where he had beaten her. The caregiver had previously been arrested and charged in another case with aggravated neglect of a dependent adult and tampering with evidence. Both defendants are being held in jail without bond pending trial.
Remedies For Surviving Victims Or Families Of Deceased Victims
The facts in the reported case are particularly horrific but nursing home patients can also suffer from negligent or substandard care. For example, a neglected bedridden patient may develop bedsores/pressure wounds which can be fatal or develop sepsis or other infections or suffer from dehydration or malnutrition. Dementia patients who tend to wander (called elopement) may suffer injury if not monitored. Whether the injuries are the result of intentional abuse as in the reported case or negligence, we believe nursing home owners, administrators, and individual staff members should be held accountable for any neglect or abuse that results in injury. Damages include:
- Economic damages where an actual cost has been absorbed such as medical expenses, loss of income, and specialist fees.
- An award of attorneys’ fees and costs in litigating the case. Welf. & Inst. Code § 15657.5.
- Non-economic damages such as emotional trauma, pain, suffering, and loss of a loved one.
- Punitive damages that are awarded as punishment against the defendant and also meant to deter other nursing homes and staff from committing similar neglect or abuse.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one been the victim of nursing home abuse in San Francisco or elsewhere in California, contact Ingrid M. Evans at Evans Law Firm at (415) 441-8669, or by email at <a href=”mailto:info@evanslaw.com”>info@evanslaw.com</a>. Our toll free number is 1-888-50EVANS.
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. was not involved in the story in any way.
