According to a news report posted on nbcnews.com, a nursing home resident was nearly asphyxiated after she was presumed dead and placed in a body bag. The report states that the nursing home resident was pronounced dead at a New York nursing facility and was later discovered struggling to breathe at a funeral home a few hours later. The incident happened last Saturday and only a month after a similar incident happened to a 66-year-old resident at an Iowa hospice facility.
The report states that at 11:15 in the morning last Saturday, the 82-year-old woman was declared deceased at Water’s Edge Rehab and Nursing Center in Port Jefferson on Long Island. Suffolk County police reported that the nursing care patient was transported to O.B. Davis Funeral Home in Miller Place at around 1:30 PM. At around 2:10 in the afternoon, funeral home staff witnessed the woman breathing, and she was transported to a local area hospital to receive medical treatment.
The Suffolk County police have not provided an update on the nursing home resident’s medical condition.
This tragic incident was referred to New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office for an investigation and possible criminal charges. A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s office stated that the situation was awful and caused unnecessary trauma for the nursing home resident and their loved ones. The report states that the Attorney General spokesperson did not state whether the nursing home would be fined or charged.
A similar incident happened a month ago. In Iowa, a 66-year-old woman at a hospice facility was wrongly presumed dead. The state’s Department of Inspections and Appeals reported that a nurse at the hospice facility checked on the patient at around 6 AM and could not find any signs of life. That resident was then taken to a funeral home, and funeral home staff witnessed the woman gasping for air. She was transported to a local emergency room. According to the incident report, the victim was later returned to the hospice facility, and she passed away two days later. Iowa state officials fined the hospice facility $10,000, which is the maximum fine permitted under Iowa law.
If you or a loved one have been harmed at a nursing home or hospice facility, contact Parker Waichman LLP for a free case review. You may be qualified to file a lawsuit seeking monetary damages. The time you have to file you claim is limited by state law, so contact our firm today!
CONTACT PARKER WAICHMAN LLP FOR A FREE CASE REVIEW
Parker Waichman LLP helps families recover financial compensation for harm caused by negligent care. For your free consultation, contact our Nursing Home Neglect Law Firm today by using our live chat or calling 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529).


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