Woman Suffers 3rd Degree Burns due to Nursing Home Neglect
Januray 12, 2006
Another shocking case of nursing home abuse was filed in the San Mateo County Superior Court of Redwood City, California this past Tuesday. Theresa Rodriguez, a 51-year-old woman suffered severe third degree burns after being left in her wheelchair in a scalding 135-degree shower for 20 minutes.
Rodriguez, who suffered oxygen deprivation at birth, is significantly mentally and physically disabled and was unable to remove herself from the dangerous situation. When found with the terrible burns, nursing staff left her in her bed for nearly three hours before contacting any sort of emergency support.
Theresa Rodriguez, who was placed on vital life support for two months, will now require tube feeding, and constant care for the rest of her life.
The county's public guardian is seeking damages on behalf of Rodriguez for medical expenses and punitive damages, for a gross lack of care and training on the part of Res-Care Inc. ResCare, the Kentucky based company, owned an operated the San Mateo facility. It has since been sold to a new facilitator.
Nursing attendant Oretha Ocansey who was caring for the woman was convicted of elder abuse and sentenced to two months in jail. Ocansey has since been deported to her native country of Liberia.
For more information on California's nursing homes, contact us to confer with a California nursing home abuse lawyer.
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