When families place their elderly loved ones in California nursing homes and other similar facilities, they expect them to be cared for and safe. Sadly, some of those expectations prove to be fruitless. Recently, a woman died at a facility after being poisoned.
What happened to the victim?
A 93-year-old woman with dementia was discovered dead at an adult care facility after accidentally being served dishwashing liquid. She was one of three victims who drank the soap, which was mistaken for juice. All were hospitalized after the incident and the other two residents also died of poisoning.
Since the woman’s death, her surviving family members filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the care facility. A spokeswoman for the home stated that an internal investigation was being done to determine how the mistake occurred. She said that the dishwashing liquid, the exact same color as cranberry juice, was inside a pitcher when a staff member poured cups to serve.
Details of the lawsuit
According to the wrongful death lawsuit, staff members at the facility waited over half an hour prior to finally calling 911. At that point, the woman’s digestive tract had already suffered irreparable damage from the dish soap, which was said to be “more toxic than Drano.”
Another lawsuit filed after the death of one of the other victims stresses the problem of understaffing. It also argues that the adult care facility failed to adequately train its staff members.
The lawsuits also argue that the facility habitually cut costs and care as a way to profit from its vulnerable residents. The California Department of Social Services is investigating these matters.
Wrongful death can shatter families. The survivors are able to recover damages, but their loved ones are forever gone, leaving broken hearts behind.