ATTORNEY: Brad L. Blake

Kenny P., who was 47 years old and disabled, went to a nursing home to rehabilitate after being discharged from the hospital.  He had recently been falling.  He also had diabetes and partial paralysis, among other conditions.  His primary care physician ordered a blood test that was never performed, and B-12 shots were not administered to Kenny despite a doctor’s order.  After two weeks at the nursing home, his appetite began to decline.  The nursing staff waited to contact Kenny’s primary care physician for about two weeks.  A test was ordered, which indicated that Kenny was having swallowing difficulties.  Several days later, Kenny became non-responsive at the nursing home and was then sent to the hospital, suffering  acute metabolic acidosis from poor nutrition.   Several days later, Kenny  died at the hospital.   The nursing home witnesses contended that they offered adequate nutrition to Kenny, but that he  did not want to eat.  The State of Missouri, though, cited the home for providing deficient care. Mr. Blake represented Kenny’s father in this wrongful death lawsuit.