Daniel E. Holloway
Email me about your case
Georgia case library

Wellstar North Fulton Hospital complaint alleges a stroke patient needing one-to-one feeding was alone when hot broth burned him

The complaint alleges that two hospital nurses did not provide a stroke patient a safe environment with precautions, such as one-to-one feeding assistance. The 77-year-old patient had left-side neglect and cognitive impairment after an ischemic stroke and could not independently manage his meals. Hours earlier that day he had a witnessed seizure, and an assessment found weakness with limited movement in his left arm. Hot broth spilled on his left hip while he was alone on October 31, 2021, causing second-degree burns.

System
Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, Inc.
Facility
Wellstar North Fulton Hospital
Providers involved
Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, Inc. / Carmen Hampton, R.N. / Gheorghe S. Balan, R.N.
Pattern
Alleged failure to provide one-to-one feeding assistance for a stroke patient with left-side and cognitive deficits
Harm
Alleged second-degree burns from hot broth while he was alone

Overview

This page concerns a complaint alleging that nurses did not give a stroke patient one-to-one feeding assistance. Hot broth burned him while he was alone.

Chronology

The complaint alleges as follows:

  1. The patient, 77, was airlifted to the hospital on October 27, 2021, after an acute ischemic stroke.
  2. He had substantial left-side neglect. Screenings noted he needed assistance with feeding and one-to-one feeding.
  3. On October 31, 2021 at 0900, following a witnessed seizure, an assessment found weak, limited movement in his left arm.
  4. At 0921 he was confused, stated he was at a different hospital, and scored 12 on the NIHSS stroke scale.
  5. A 1455 physical therapy note recorded delayed cognitive processing and impaired balance and mobility.
  6. Between 2000 and 2230 that evening, hot broth spilled on his left hip while he was alone, causing second-degree burns.

Alleged failures

The complaint alleges the following failures:

  • The two nurses did not provide a safe environment with precautions, such as one-to-one feeding assistance.
  • He could not independently manage his meals because of left-side stroke deficits and cognitive impairment, and he was alone when burned.
  • Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, Inc. is vicariously liable for the nurses’ negligent acts under respondeat superior, the complaint alleges.
  • The complaint pleads professional negligence against each nurse and vicarious liability against Wellstar, with an expert nursing affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-9.1.

Entities and tags

Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, Inc.Carmen Hampton, R.N.Gheorghe S. Balan, R.N.Ischemic strokeSecond-degree burnsFulton CountyNegligent hiring or supervisionBurn injuryNursingNeurologyRehabilitation medicine