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SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Malpractice suit over woman's nursing home death goes to trial

Packard

Jury selection began Monday in a medical malpractice case alleging that the late Emma Lee Randolph was forced to sit in her own waste while she received dialysis.

Alleging the neglect contributed to their mother's death, Torrence Randolph and three of his siblings filed suit against the Kidney Center and two of its physicians, Dr. Shariq Ahmad and Dr. Mark Wilson, in the Jefferson County District Court on Feb. 27, 2008.

Silsbee Oaks Healthcare was later added as a defendant but non-suited on Jan. 3 by the plaintiffs.

A month later, the plaintiffs non-suited the Kidney Center of Beaumont on Feb. 17, court papers say.

The trial will focus on the alleged negligence of the suit's sole remaining defendant, Dr. Ahmad.

Court records show that on Jan. 18, 2006, Emma Randolph was admitted to Silsbee Oaks Nursing Home. During her stay, she was required to go to The Kidney Center of Beaumont for dialysis several times a week.

"These were long visits-frequently lasting between six to eight hours," the suit said.

"During these visits, the staff at the Kidney Center did not care for Ms. Randolph. They allowed her to sit in a wheelchair without being repositioned, without receiving incontinent care, without receiving adequate nutrition, and without receiving adequate hydration.

"As a result, she was left to sit in the same position for expended periods of time-frequently in her own waste. The physicians and staff at the Kidney Center did not attend to her nutritional needs as she was not sufficiently encouraged or assisted with eating and drinking during the time she was there.

"Despite being repeatedly warned by the nursing home staff that these failures would be catastrophic to Ms. Randolph, the physicians and staff at the Kidney Center did nothing to improve and as a result, Ms. Randolph became dehydrated, malnourished and developed severe bedsores, which later became infected."

The Randolph children are suing for exemplary damages, plus their mother's past and future suffering.

The plaintiffs are represented by Daniel Packard, attorney for the Packard, Packard & Lapray law firm in Beaumont.

Ahmad is represented by Beaumont attorney J.B. Wittenburg of Orgain, Bell & Tucker.

Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th Judicial District, is presiding over the trial.

Case No. D181-335

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