Nursing Home Resident Dies from Choking
In Willmar, MN a nursing home is being blamed for the death of a resident who chocked on raw cucumbers that should not have been served for her according to reports by state officials.
The Minnesota Department of Health cited Bethesda Heritage Center for neglected because most of the center’s staff members were unaware of the dietary restriction for this resident that did not allow her to consume raw vegetables of any kind. The resident was admitted to the center two years prior to the incident for chronic breathing and trouble with anxiety. She was on a restrictive diet which banned her from consuming anything that was not cooked. On May 29th, the resident began choking while she ate cucumbers in cream. A staff member performed the Heimlich maneuver, which prompted her to cough up a mouthful of food.
The resident was taken to an emergency room where she died from respiratory failure and choking. The staff at the nursing home have stated that they did not believe they were violating the dietary restrictions since the cucumbers were soft and in cream sauce. The nursing home has since taken measure to re-educate their staff members about the dietary restrictions of all its residents. The nursing home not requires every meal to be double checked against their resident’s dietary requirements.
Although the nursing home is now taking measures to prevent this accident it still doesn’t change that the family of this resident has to suffer the loss of their loved one from this accident. Each resident should have been informed about the dietary restrictions to begin so this incident could have prevented. The negligence of the nursing home makes them responsible for the emotional damages and the other costs of this incident.
At last! Someone who unedrsdtans! Thanks for posting!