California Car Accident Reports

The nursing home abuse lawyers at Bisnar | Chase keep a close watch on California nursing home negligence and abuse cases. According to a news report in the San Bernardino County Sun, California Department of Public Health officials announced that the agency issued a $90,000 fine to the Del Rosa Villa nursing home in San Bernardino after investigators determined that the facility did not take any steps to prevent a patient's suicide.

The 52-year-old man was apparently admitted to the nursing home on May 22, 2009 about one month after he broke two bones in his left leg by throwing himself in front of a car. The man had been diagnosed with depressive disorder, schizophrenia and "suicidal ideation." The patient's doctors came up with a care plan for him right away giving strict instructions that he should be on "suicide watch at all times." On June 11, a nurse reported she saw the man leaving the nursing home's laundry room alone in a wheelchair to smoke. Twenty minutes later, the man was found outside hanging from a fence with a belt around his neck. He could not be resuscitated.

Negligence Caused Patient's Death, Report Says

State investigators concluded that the nursing home staff at Del Rosa Villa failed to abide by the patient's care plan, which specifically stated that the man was to be placed on suicide watch. The nursing home's negligence and failure to follow the patient's care plan was "a direct proximate cause of the death of the patient," according to the state's report.

My heart goes out to the family of this patient for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest condolences to them. This family will certainly be in my prayers.

The family of this deceased man had clearly trusted this nursing home to keep a close watch on their loved one because of his diagnosed mental condition. It's appalling that the nursing home staff let a patient, who was on suicide watch, be alone for 20 minutes. What do nursing home representatives have to say in their defense? An attorney for the facility tells the newspaper that the nursing home staff only needed to keep an eye on the patient "if he displays signs." She also says that the fact that this patient committed suicide came as an "absolute shock" to the nurse who was caring for him? Here's my question: If the nurse had read and understood the patient's care plan and his list of mental conditions, why would that come as an absolute shock to her?

California Personal Injury Lawyer

This family, who had entrusted the care and recovery of their loved one to Del Rosa Villa would be well-advised to consult a reputed California personal injury lawyer, who has experience and a successful track record with nursing home negligence cases. A skilled injury lawyer will be able to explain their legal rights and options. In such cases, where a victim's death was the direct result of an individual or entity's negligence, families of the deceased victims can file a wrongful death claim seeking monetary compensation for their loss.