HOUSTON — A Harris County woman is suing a Houston nursing home, alleging her mother died due to medical negligence.
Rhonda Swanagan, individually and on behalf of the estate of Ruby Hutchins and all wrongful death beneficiaries, filed a complaint March 30 in Harris County District Court against Pinnacle Health Facilities XV, LP, doing business as Woodridge Nursing and Rehabilitation, alleging medical negligence and wrongful death.
According to the complaint, Hutchins, was admitted to Woodrige Nursing and Rehabilitation in Houston on Aug. 23, 2017, for long-term care due to dementia. The suit says Hutchines developed a sacral pressure ulcer in October 2017 and was transferred to Houston Methodist Hospital when the wound became infected Feb. 16, 2018.
The suit alleges the wound caused a number of issues in addition to the plaintiff suffering from a UTI. The plaintiff, the suit says, was put on antibiotics but her condition did not improve.
Hutchins was placed under hospice care and passed away on April 27, 2018.
The plaintiff alleges Woodridge failed to properly treat and observe Hutchins. These failures, the suit says, ultimately caused Hutchins' death
Swanagan seeks trial by jury, actual damages, interest, costs of court and all other just and fair relief. She is represented by by attorneys Karen Cannon Shanks and Patrick O'Connor Hotze of Hotze Runke PLLC in Austin.
Harris County District Court case number 2019-23049