Man Dies After Nursing Home Fails to Administer Proper Care

Jamie G. Goldstein

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 626

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A Wyoming man died in December 2004 at the Casper nursing home from a mucus plug within his tracheostomy tube. Prior to Leslie Simpson's admission to the nursing home, he was seen at the Wyoming Medical Center to have a mucus plug removed. He was then transferred to Casper nursing home and specific instructions were given to the nurse to make certain his tracheostomy tube was clear.

The nurses, however, failed to perform their duties properly. Mr. Simpson, who was only 52 at the time of his death, was never given proper trach care during the 19 hours he spent at the nursing home. The failure to properly care for him caused his death. Mr. Simpson was found sprawled out on his bed with the sheets a complete mess, which shows that Mr. Simpson was in distress prior to his death.

Nursing home abuse and neglect is all too common all over the country. In Illinois, there are reports of deaths just like this where the nurses do not follow the orders given to them or are not properly trained to carry out the orders. A person going to a nursing facility is there because he/she needs special care, however, all to often the needs of these patients are not being attended to properly. Putting a family member in a nursing facility is a tough enough decision, families should not have to be then faced with having to question their actions when something goes wrong.