Family files wrongful death suit against nursing home
Jay Cameron whose mother died in a California nursing home filed a lawsuit against the facility saying it caused his mother’s death by reducing staff to save money.
Cameron alleges the home committed elder abuse, fraud, wrongful death, negligence and violated patient rights. He is asking for an undetermined amount of money and reimbursement for attorneys’ fees.
Cameron’s mother, Margaret Williams, was a resident at Mission View before being transferred to French Hospital Medical Center where she died. Williams fell three times at the facility, suffered a hip fracture and developed pneumoniacausing her death.
Compass Health and administrators at Mission View are trying to increase profits by reducing staff and employing people who were not properly trained or qualified, leading to Williams’ death.
Attorneys for Cameron, Greg Coates and Michael Thamer, argue that the nursing facility took short cuts in care that resulted in unsanitary and hazardous living conditions and left residents unsuper vised. They also said there was an increase in accidents and injuries suffered by residents and nursing staff and other signs of inadequate care.
State records for 2006-07 show the state Department of Public Health issued three citations against the home in 2006 for patient care and fined the facility $2,800, spokeswoman Lea Brooks said. In April 2007, during a recertification survey, state investigators found deficiencies at the home, Brooks said.
