Kern Valley Nursing Home was the scene of three unnecessary deaths as evidence leaked that the director of the program was using chemical restraints to subdue patients. According to the Attorney General the nursing home director gave patients "excessive amounts of medicine to keep them quiet." Gwen Hughes, the director of the California nursing home had been fired from a previous care facility for the same act out of Fresno. A preliminary hearing is set for March 9, 2010 where Hughes, nursing home administrator Pamela Ott and staff physician Hoshang Pormi r face up to 11 years in prison. Unfortunately, three people had to die before the world took notice of this tragedy. California nursing home abuse and neglect is too common. Especially when it involves chemical restraints or overdrugging - it is more difficult to detect and goes on for longer than it should. If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect the first phone call you should make is to a dedicated nursing home abuse lawyer who can assist you to get the most fair settlement in your case.

Posted by Michael Young at 9:31 AM | Permalink

The story is devastating. Three people have died at the hands of one nursing home director who routinely over-drugged patients throughout her course of employment. According to reports she would "chemically restrain" patients with anti-psychotic drugs if they simply "glared" at her. The story was brought to light when Phyllis Peters could not wake her 97 year old mother at the Kern Valley Nursing Home. It was discovered that the amount of anti-psychotic drugs given to the patient were unwarranted. Other patients were given the same torture leaving them malnourished leading to three deaths. Unfortunately, the reality is that California Nursing Home Abuse occurs in every setting. Directors take advantage of their patients and must be held accountable. Here the district attorney has filed charges against the director, the administrator and the physician, but this is only the start. The FDA states that over-drugging leads to 15,000 deaths in nursing homes each year. With this tragic statistic, it is up to you to act fast. If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, contact one of our leading California nursing home abuse attorneys today. We offer a free consultation and will work hard to get you the best possible outcome in your case.

Posted by Michael Young at 8:54 AM | Permalink