The Trial of Bettye Patterson – “Full Responsibility for All of the Harm”

Bettye Patterson lived in a nursing home due to her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or

“COPD”. Bettye’s COPD caused her to have trouble breathing, so she received oxygen through a

breathing machine – called an “oxygen concentrator” – at all times.

On the morning of October 16, the power went out in Bettye’s room, which caused Bettye’s

oxygen concentrator to turn off. The nurse recognized the power was out and that Bettye was not

receiving supplemental oxygen. However, instead of ensuring Bettye received oxygen, Bettye’s

nurse went to eat lunch and did not inform any other nurses of the emergency scenario.

For the next 20 minutes, Bettye went without supplemental oxygen. The evidence at trial showed

that Bettye suffered both physically and mentally; the expert lung specialist testified that what

Bettye experienced was similar to drowning, and that it was “one of the most terrifying things a

person can experience.”

Bettye passed away that afternoon as a result of her lack of oxygen. She was survived by

husband and her five children. Each family member testified to the immense emotional loss they

experienced, and continue to experience, because they lost their wife and mother too soon.

The Trial of Norma Darnell –“Every moment matters”

Norma Darnell lived in a nursing home because of her advanced dementia. Due to Norma’s

advanced dementia, she was placed on hospice and was proscribed “Hydromorphone” – an

opioid that would be given in doses of 0.25 ml, or 0.5 ml, depending on the severity of Norma’s

distress.

Between December 13 and December 14, the nursing home’s staff administered 4 doses of

Hydromorphone. However, while four doses were given, each dose had ten times more

medication than was ordered; instead of administering a total of 1.5 ml, the nursing home

administered a total of 15 ml.

As a result of the overdose, Norma experienced severe physical and mental suffering; Norma

struggled to breathe, and her body could not expel carbon dioxide. Norma lived like this for two

days before passing away as a direct result of the nursing home’s negligent administration of

pain medication.

Norma left behind her only daughter. Norma’s daughter testified that her mom was her best

friend and partner in crime. And that while she knew her mom did not have a lot of time left, that

she and her mom deserved have the time together that they was supposed to have. But instead,

Norma’s daughter must now live knowing that her mother was taken away from her too soon and

because of the nursing home’s negligence.

The Trial of Sandy Brooks – “Missed Dialysis Means Death”

Sandy was admitted to a nursing home because of his end-stage rental disease – his kidneys

could no longer filter toxins out of his blood, so he required dialysis treatments three times a

week. Sandy was admitted to a specific nursing home because that facility provided dialysis in-

house, specifically in the basement of the building.

Sandy was a resident at the nursing home for 12 days and therefore should have received 5

dialysis treatments. However, the nursing home did not provide Sandy any dialysis treatments.

The nursing home admitted that it was supposed to provide the treatments, admitted it did not

provide any treatments, but offered no excuse for this error.

Without the dialysis treatments, Sandy’s body could not rid itself of toxins. So, over those 12

days, Sandy’s blood became so toxic that it became poisonous to his body – every doctor agreed

that the toxicity of Sandy’s blood was worst toxicity they had ever seen in their medical careers.

Over the next three days, Sandy’s organs failed until he passed away as a result of the nursing

home’s admitted negligence.

Sandy left behind his wife and 4 children. Sandy’s family testified to the loss of their loved one;

how he was not only his children’s role model, but also a guiding light for his grandchildren and

great-grandchildren. They shared stories of how he taught each of them valuable lessons in their

hardest times, and to lift themselves up, and each other up, because nothing is more important

than family.