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Nursing Home Resident Fatally Poisoned After Being Given Dishwashing Soap To Drink

Published on Sep 16, 2022 by Thomas Law Offices.

Nursing Home Resident Fatally Poisoned After Being Given Dishwashing Soap To Drink
A California nursing home is under investigation after three of its residents were given liquid dishwashing soap to drink. The residents had been told that the liquid was juice.

The dishwashing soap contained toxic chemicals known to be harmful to human health, and all three victims were transported to an area hospital for treatment. At the last update, two of the victims remain hospitalized. The third victim—a 93-year-old woman—was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The nursing home claims that the mix-up between the juice and dishwashing soap was unintentional, and has since suspended the involved employees while they carry out an internal investigation. Local detectives are also conducting a joint investigation with the California Department of Social Services Ombudsman.

An Undercurrent of Abuse and Neglect in Nursing Homes

While it remains unclear whether the act of serving dishwashing soap to residents was an accident or intentional, nursing home residents should never be subjected to this level of neglect or abuse. Every nursing home facility must maintain rigorous safety standards for the well-being of all residents. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case.

Researchers have determined that elderly individuals who reside in long-term residential facilities (such as nursing homes) face particularly high rates of abuse and neglect. The elderly are among some of the most vulnerable members of our society, with many suffering from both limited physical ability and poor cognitive functioning related to chronic diseases. Being partly or wholly dependent on a caregiver for daily tasks such as sitting, standing, walking, bathing, eating, drinking, and more can also leave a resident vulnerable to abuse or neglect.

Nursing Home Residents Deserve Better

If your loved one has been neglected, mistreated, or purposely harmed by nursing home staff, contact Thomas Law Offices today to discuss what legal options are at your disposal. Although we cannot say with any certainty what might be appropriate for your situation without first meeting and discussing your case, we do know that nursing home abuse lawsuits are often an effective way to secure compensation for your loved one while also holding the nursing home responsible for its actions.

Thomas Law Offices offers free consultations to nursing home abuse victims and their families, so do not delay—contact us today to schedule your complimentary case evaluation.

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Call us or fill out the form below to tell us about your potential case and a personal injury lawyer will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Meet Our Founder

Tad Thomas - Trial Lawyer

Tad Thomas

Managing Partner

Tad Thomas has dedicated his practice to representing plaintiffs in various types of civil litigation, including personal injury, business litigation, class actions, and multi-district litigation.

After graduating with his law degree in 2000 from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University, Mr. Thomas immediately opened his own private practice and began representing injury victims.

In 2011, Thomas Law Offices was established in Louisville, Kentucky. Over the past decade, Mr. Thomas has expanded his firm and now has offices in three additional locations: Cincinnati, Ohio, Columbia, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois. He is also a frequent lecturer on topics like trial skills and ethics and technology.

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