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“Granny Cam” Footage Captures Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect—Shuts Down Home

In a recent Maryland nursing home lawyer blog, our attorneys discussed the use of hidden cameras or “Granny cams” in nursing homes, and how one hidden camera investigation led to the arrest of twenty-two healthcare workers, after the video showed rampant nursing home neglect and abuse.

A residential care home in California has recently been shut down after the grandson of an elderly resident captured footage on his small “granny cam” that reportedly showed his grandmother being abused by the staff, treatment that according to the resident’s family led to her wrongful death while she received care in the elderly home.

Shortly after Kyong Hui Duncan moved into Fair Oaks elderly care, her grandson installed a camera by the bed to ensure that his grandmother did not experience any nursing home abuse or negligence. But when he visited his grandmother, Seah Suh would often find the camera unplugged.

After Duncan died, Suh reportedly discovered footage that captured Duncan being moved to and from her wheelchair in a violent manner, with abusive shaking by a staffer. The staff members are also being accused of improperly restraining Duncan, and failing to care for her in a fast enough manner after she had fallen. After seeing the footage from the “Granny Cam” the California Department of Social Services investigated the home, ordering that the home’s operators close their doors. The state is also reportedly moving to permanently revoke the home’s nursing home license.

According to the autopsy report for Duncan, there were also potentially toxic levels of narcotics in her system, with at least one that was never prescribed for her by her own doctor. Duncan’s family is using the evidence to sue the center for abuse neglect and wrongful death, claiming that she suffered personal injuries, infection, and dosages of drugs that were lethal and contributed to her wrongful death while a resident at the home.

If a Baltimore County nursing home resident experiences an injury or dies because of negligence or abuse, the nursing home could be held liable for Maryland nursing home negligence or wrongful death. Our attorneys at Lebowitz and Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers represent victims and their families who wish to recover personal injury compensation from nursing home negligence and harm. For a free consultation about your nursing home rights, contact our Baltimore, Maryland nursing home attorneys today.

‘Grannycam’ video spurs state to shut Fair Oaks care home, The Sacramento Bee, January 14, 2010
“Granny Cam” Legally Used In Shutting Down Elderly Care, Fox40, January 14, 2010

Related Web Resources:

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, DHMH

National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)

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