California Nursing Home Fined $121,000 AFter Patient Dies When Ventilator Alarm Turned Off
Casa Bonita Convalescent Hospital has been hit with a $121,000 fine after a patient was disconnected from a ventilator and died at the facility. The ninety year old resident died in October 2007 after a remote alarm was turned off and staff was not alerted when the ventilator was disconnected. The facility was issued three citations in the incident, one of which was a "AA" citation, which is the most severe penalty that a nursing home can receive. The facility was fined $100,000 for failing to have a system that prevented the patient from becoming disconnected from the machine and for turning off the ventilator's alarm. The facility also assessed a $20,000 fine for failing to check on the alarm system and a $1,000 fine for failing to implement staff policies that ensured ventilator education and certification. The California Department of Public Health said that poor care at the facility caused the resident's death. The facility dusputes this finding and plans to appeal
The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. Contact us at 1 (888) 317-2525 or visit us at www.nursinghomejustice.com.
