Nursing home residents can become victims of abuse or neglect. A good many of these cases are at the hands of facility employees. However, at times, abuse can come from their fellow residents, sometimes ending in tragedy.
Virginia authorities announced last Thursday that no charges would be filed in the death of a nursing home resident who died after being pushed by a fellow resident.
87-year-old Danielle Griffin got into an argument with another resident of the Leewood Healthcare Center in Annandale, Virginia in May 2016. The other resident, who is unnamed, pushed Griffin, causing her to fall. According to the police report, Griffin was taken to a nearby hospital and diagnosed with a broken hip. She was treated and released back to Leewood a few days later.
Within a few weeks, Griffin began complaining of shortness of breath. She was readmitted to the hospital and died a few hours later.
An autopsy performed in October concluded that Griffin’s cause of death was complications of a hip fracture combined with “extensive additional” conditions. The medical examiner who performed the autopsy ruled Griffin’s death a homicide.
Griffin suffered from dementia and hypertension. The resident who pushed Griffin also suffered from “diminished mental capacity.”
Police said in their announcement that given the total circumstances that no charges are expected to be filed in the case.
Leewood said in their own statement that the incident was investigated by the facility’s clinical team and reported the incident to “all appropriate agencies.”
If you or a loved one believe that you have been a victim of abuse or neglect while staying in a nursing facility, you may be entitled to compensation. Let the legal team at the offices of Schenk Smith fight for you. Contact us today.
