Convalescent Home to Pay $80,000 for a Woman’s Accidental Death

September 3, 2009

San Jose, California - Following the accidental death of an 83-year-old woman inside a convalescent home, the California Department of Public Health ordered the healthcare provider to pay the victim’s surviving relatives with $80,000 for failing to maintain a safe environment for the patient.

In April 3, the victim, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, was injured after a television and dresser fell on her; she died two weeks later due to her injuries.

According to reports made by the health department, the woman was going to the bathroom when she found out that her walker was not on her bedside. She grabbed the television on a dresser for support when these two collapsed and landed on her head and chest.

In a statement, the department said the Convalescent Hospital on Payne Avenue has “failed to provide adequate supervision” and “failed to implement care interventions”, thus resulting to the woman’s death.

The department officials did not name the victim.

In response to the health officials’ decision, the hospital’s administrator Lita Javier said the whole staff cares for all the patients, adding that they provide the highest quality of care for everyone in the convalescent home.

Javier also said that the hospital disagrees with the health officials’ decision and that they are considering to make an appeal.