Nursing Home Owner Convicted in Bedpan Death

2009-02-22 05:40:37 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Law, News)

The owner of a New Mexico nursing home is found guilty in the death of a patient who was left on a bedpan.

WiredPRNews.com — The owner of a nursing home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been found guilty of felony abuse and neglect in connection to charges stemming from an incident on Christmas day in 2005. As reported by Andrews Publications, Richard Gerhardt, a 76-year-old resident at the nursing home, who was recovering from a broken hip, was placed on a bed pan and left there for 24 hours. According to reports, the bedpan became imbedded in his skin, causing an open wound that became infected and resulted in his death 5 days later.

The nursing home faces a possible $5000 fine and/or exclusion from federally funded health care programs. The case is noted to be rare, and may be the first of its type to lead to a conviction. Elizabeth Staley, director of the New Mexico attorney general Elder Abuse and Medicaid Fraud Division is quoted in the report as stating, “Nursing home and care facilities are paid to provide round the clock care to those who cannot care for themselves… Protecting this population is of paramount importance to the New Mexico attorney general and similar violations will be prosecuted vigorously.”

Sentencing for the case is set for March 13.