CLAIM: Employee Pushing Cart In Nursing Home Slams Into Wheelchair-Bound Patient.
BY: LITIGATION DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2022 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A resident of Avante Boca Raton claims that she sustained critical injuries — including a broken leg — when an employee allegedly slammed a cart into her wheelchair. While there is no suggestion that the crash was intentional, the resulting injuries have left the woman disfigured and in pain. Worse, the alleged injuries would have been mitigated had staffers at Avante only correctly placed the leg rests and feet rests on the wheelchair, according to the suit.
Edith Ohana, in the suit just filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, claims the crash happened in December of 2020.
“Employees placed Edith Ohana in a wheelchair without placing the leg rests and or feet rests on, and rushed her down the hallway advising that she had an eye doctor appointment,” states the complaint. “On the way to the door, the staff, agents, servants and/or employees of Avante at Boca Raton, caused a collision between Edith Ohana and another staff member who was pushing a cart, causing Edit Ohana’s left leg to become entrapped in the wheelchair, breaking her leg.”
Ohana was transferred to JFK Medical Center where, according to the suit, she was diagnosed with multiple left ankle and leg fractures. The injuries were so significant, according to the complaint, that Ohana underwent surgery for the left leg and ankle fractures.
Attorneys for Ohana say that Avante at Boca Raton employees failed to utilize preventative measures in wheelchair safety, failed to appropriately document injury, failed to take appropriate measures to maintain patient safety, and failed to follow the rules in place by the Agency of Health Care Administration.
The suit, which you can read in its entirety, below, seeks in excess of $30,000 which is the statutory minimum for filing in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. Avante at Boca Raton had not filed a response to the suit as of mid-day Tuesday, November 29th. Ohana is represented by attorney Darla Keen of Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey and Fronrath in West Palm Beach.
