Nursing Home Sued After Deadly Medication Mixup

A medication error can have devastating consequences for a nursing home resident and the family left behind.

A South Carolina nursing home agreed to pay $400,000 to the grieving wife of a deceased resident after she filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the facility in 2022. According to the plaintiff, nursing home staff were negligent and made a serious medication error that contributed to her husband’s death. Attorneys for the nursing home agreed to the settlement but denied wrongdoing in the patient’s death, according to a settlement approval document filed in March.

The case highlights the potentially serious consequences of medication mistakes in nursing homes. Residents often rely on nursing staff to administer medications correctly, monitor their condition, and respond appropriately when their health begins to deteriorate.

Quick Answer:
Medication errors in nursing homes can become part of a negligence or wrongful death claim when a facility fails to follow the resident’s prescribed medication instructions and that failure causes injury or death. The specific facts, medical records, and evidence surrounding the resident’s care are critical when evaluating a potential claim.

What Happened in the South Carolina Nursing Home Case?

The plaintiff filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the nursing home in September 2022 after her 77-year-old husband died at the facility on August 15, 2020.

According to the lawsuit, the man had been admitted to a hospital in late July after developing sepsis from a urinary tract infection. He was transferred to the nursing home two days before his death because of what the lawsuit described as a change in his condition and medical decline.

The Resident Was Transferred to the Nursing Home

The resident had recently been hospitalized after developing sepsis from a urinary tract infection. According to the lawsuit, he was transferred to the nursing home shortly before his death because his condition had changed and he was experiencing medical decline.

An Alleged Medication Error Occurred

According to the lawsuit, the resident was prescribed 90 milligrams of fluoxetine on a weekly basis but was allegedly given 90 milligrams every day during his stay at the nursing home. The lawsuit contended that the unusually high dosage interacted with his heart medication and resulted in an overdose.

His Condition Reportedly Deteriorated

Records indicated that the resident suffered from deteriorating mental status during his approximately two-week stay at the nursing home. The allegations raised questions about whether his changing condition was appropriately recognized, documented, and addressed.

Injuries Were Discovered After His Death

According to court documents, the resident’s autopsy revealed bleeding in his scalp and fractures to five ribs. The lawsuit alleged that nursing staff had not informed his family that he had been injured and had failed to document any falls at the facility.

The Alleged Fluoxetine Medication Error

Commonly known as Prozac, fluoxetine is an antidepressant medication. According to the lawsuit, the resident was supposed to receive 90 milligrams weekly but allegedly received that amount every day instead.

An affidavit signed by a registered nurse and filed with the lawsuit reportedly stated that the medication error resulted in an extremely high dosage and an overdose. The lawsuit further alleged that the medication interacted with the resident’s heart medication.

Why Medication Records Matter:
Medication administration records can be important evidence in a nursing home neglect case. They may help establish what a resident was prescribed, what medication was actually administered, when it was given, and whether the facility documented any concerns or changes in the resident’s condition.

Elements of Negligence in a Nursing Home Neglect Lawsuit

Nursing homes face many of the same legal issues that arise in hospitals and other care facilities. Depending on the facts, claims may involve medical negligence, medication errors, inadequate monitoring, failures to document injuries, or premises liability issues such as falls.

In this case, the allegations against the nursing home were similar to medical malpractice allegations because the facility was accused of failing to administer the resident’s medication according to the prescribed instructions. Instead of administering the prescribed weekly dosage, the lawsuit alleged that the nursing home gave the resident a week’s supply of fluoxetine each day.

A medication mistake of this nature can raise serious questions about how medications were ordered, stored, administered, documented, and reviewed at the facility. Whether a nursing home can be held legally responsible depends on the specific evidence and whether the alleged breach of the applicable standard of care caused the resident’s injuries or death.

Other Warning Signs of Possible Nursing Home Neglect

Medication errors are not the only potential warning sign of inadequate care. Families may also have concerns when a nursing home resident experiences unexplained injuries, sudden changes in mental status, falls that are not properly documented, untreated medical conditions, or other significant changes that are not communicated to family members.

If a loved one dies after an unexplained injury, medication error, or significant decline in condition, medical records and facility records may help determine whether the care provided was appropriate. An attorney can review those records and investigate the circumstances surrounding the resident’s death.

Nursing Home Neglect Can Have Devastating Consequences

Nursing home residents often depend on staff for medications, medical monitoring, personal care, and assistance with everyday needs. When staff members make serious mistakes or fail to recognize and respond to a resident’s changing condition, the consequences can be devastating.

In the South Carolina case, the resident’s wife pursued a wrongful death lawsuit based on allegations involving medication administration, the resident’s deteriorating condition, and injuries that were allegedly not reported to his family. The case ultimately resulted in a $400,000 settlement, while the nursing home’s attorneys denied wrongdoing.

Talk to a Springfield, IL Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Attorney Today

The Springfield personal injury attorneys at Patel Law, PC represent the interests of grieving family members in lawsuits involving negligent nursing homes. If you believe a loved one suffered serious harm because of nursing home neglect, abuse, or a medication error, call our office today to schedule an appointment so we can begin investigating your allegations.