Resident Dies from Choking on Carrot, Home Fined $2,500

Two Connecticut nursing homes have been fined in connection with separate incidents hinting at negligence, a report by CTnow.com says.

We want to warn you the details are disturbing. In one incident, an elderly resident at a Wallingford home was accidentally fed chopped food when instructions specified the patient should receive only pureed food. This mistake led to the residents death and a subsequent citation and fine for the home.

If you suspect your loved one is being neglected or abused in a nursing home contact the leading nursing home abuse attorneys in Milwaukee today for a free consultation.

The incident occurred on Feb. 4 at the Village Green of Wallingford, and a fine of $2,500 was handed down to the facility from the state Department of Health on Feb. 25.

According to the citation issued to the home, an attending nurse found the resident unresponsive with a tray of chopped food. The nurse alerted staff and emergency responders, who removed the carrot from the residents throat, but it was too late as the resident choked on a chopped carrot and required extensive medical attention. The resident was transported to a local hospital and later died.

The citation revealed that a nurses aide had mistakenly provided that patient with another patients food. The aide reportedly was a floater aide, who occupied a variety of different units over the course of a week. It was also revealed that the aide had not received or participated in any staff orientation procedures.

In response to the incident, staff members at the Village Green of Wallingford were given a refreshed education on the importance of properly attending to residents with special food instructions.

A Feb. 10 observation by state inspectors revealed that a new action plan had been devised to ensure another accidental death did not take place.

Part of that plan included hiring Christine Fitzgerald as executive director and a new director of the nursing home. According to Fitzgerald, the home has taken steps to address all of the states concerns as laid out in the citation.

At Pitman, Kalkhoff, Sicula & Dentice, we dont believe anyone should have to suffer pain and mistreatment from the very people who are meant to care for and protect them. When a nursing home resident is killed because of negligence, we seek justice. If you believe your loved one is the victim of abuse contact our experienced Milwaukee personal injury attorneys for a FREE review of your case.

Call  414-333-3333 or fill out our free case evaluation form today.