Second Death at Skilled Nursing Facility Leads to Nursing Home Abuse Investigation

A nursing home abuse investigation is underway for potential nursing home abuse or neglect after the facility experienced its second patient death.

In June this year, employees at the Medford Multicare Center were charged in the death of another patient in the same unit – Aurelia Rios, 72, from Central Islip, who died allegedly due to ventilator failure in October 2012. However, a nursing home abuse investigation uncovered potential criminal nursing home abuse or neglect in the case, leading to the charges.

Now, a second patient has died due to similar circumstances, leading to serious questions about the Medford Center’s care staff.

Sandra Cunha, 71, died on June 20th at the Medford Multicare Center, and her death was also attributed to ventilator failure. Cunha’s family stated that nursing home staff told them the breathing machine failed, but family believes that staff did not react quickly enough to alarms attached to ventilator, so that Cunha could have been resuscitated and taken to a hospital.

“It does concern us very, very much because I think there is a lot of abuse, not only here,” one nursing home family member said.

“If you go to all the nursing homes, they are all going to have issues, you know what I’m saying? Just not Medford. They are very caring to my mom,” another added.

“They are very shocked, frustrated and angry that they weren’t provided with the information in a timely fashion the way they should have been,” Cunha’s family’s attorney said.

Attorneys for the Medford Care Center and interviewed employees insist that no nursing home abuse or neglect was involved in either death. The New York State Department of Health is investigating again for further potential nursing home abuse or neglect at the facility.

The Strom Law Defends Victims of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Signs of abuse and neglect to look for when your loved one is in a nursing home or residential care facility. Nursing-Home patients experiencing the physical abuse of their caregivers may exhibit:

• bruises, welts, burns
• unexplained bone injuries and other physical injuries
• repeated accidents
• personal injuries left untreated

You may also notice:

• withdrawal from family and friends
• fear, uneasiness, anxiety
• unexplained weight gain or loss
• sudden loss of interest in living
• a sudden decline of psychological health
• signs of anxiety, distrust or fear toward their caregiver,
• signs or symptoms of severe shock including the growth and development of tics such as rocking or refusing to speak
• a desire to be alone.

Under South Carolina law, physical abuse includes: slapping, hitting, kicking, biting, choking, pinching, burning, drugging a patient or confining a patient to control behavior. South Carolina Code Ann. 43-35-10 A person does not have to inflict abuse to be held responsible for the physical abuse. One is culpable by allowing it to take place without doing anything to stop or prevent the abuse.

You are not alone. If your loved one has physically suffered, or died wrongfully, due to neglect or abuse in a nursing home or residential care facility, you may have a nursing home abuse case. The attorneys at The Strom Law Firm, LLC, understand the sensitive nature of elder abuse cases, and will treat you with respect and compassion. It is important to fight elder abuse so you, your family, and others no longer suffer because of criminal behavior. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. Contact us today for help.803.252.4800