Nursing Home Staff Charged for Negligence in Ohio

Whetstone Gardens and Care Center in Columbus, Ohio have had 7 employees charged with involuntary manslaughter and patient neglect after it was found that they purposefully neglected their duty with patients, one of which contracted bedsores and subsequently died from his injuries.

This patient’s death was caused by septic shock, which resulted from his bedsores going untreated for so long. Another patient also sustained injuries from neglectful care, and in total there were 30+ criminal charges brought upon the employees of this institution.

Why They Were Charged

Video evidence was used in this case to prove the negligence of the nursing home staff, and both the CEO and Director of Nursing at this institution were forced to admit that 3 of their staff blatantly falsified records of caring for the patient prior to the patient’s death. Video evidence showed that in February 2017, there was a 5 day period in which no treatment was given to the patient, even though a strict regiment of rotating, cleaning, and dressing wounds was mandated for the patient. Prior to this 5 day period, video evidence showed that the nurses employed lazy and negligent infection prevention practices by not cleaning wounds before dressing them, not using gloves during treatment, and more. It was also shown that one nurse’s assistant entered the room only to use her cell phone.

The Patient’s Injuries

The now deceased patient was documented with having 2 venous and arterial ulcers on both heels, and a stage 4 pressure ulcer on his tailbone. Stage 4 is the most dangerous of all stages and requires the most attention from caregivers because at this point the tissue in that area is in advanced stages of rot. This patient was also afflicted with a cognitive deficit and had severe short and long term memory loss issues. The only indication of pain and discomfort that could be expressed was through facial movements, and these were identified on the surveillance video. The care facility denies any role in the patient’s death, as the patient was transferred to a hospital 5 days before his death.

Track Record of Negligence

Another set of criminal charges were brought on this facility stemming from another alleged case of negligence from 2 years prior. One certified nursing practitioner and 4 other employees are being charged in this case, where it is alleged that the staff falsely charted treatments that were not given to the patient, and in some cases charted treatments for the patient when they were not even located within the facility. There were also false signatures shown throughout. Although the patient suffered physical injuries, it is not known whether this negligence led to the patient’s death or even if the patient is still living. The facility defended itself by asserting that they took swift action to correct this clear breaking of policy and reprimanded all the employees involved.

If you have a loved one in a care facility, it’s important to understand that things like this should never happen. If you believe that your loved one has suffered injuries because of negligence on the part of the nursing home, speaking with an attorney is the next best step in order to pursue justice. KBA Attorneys has years of experience dealing with nursing home negligence and can help you receive compensation through a nursing home lawsuit. Contact us today or fill out our online application for a case evaluation.