A tragic case of alleged medical negligence has surfaced, bringing to light the distressing circumstances surrounding the death of Sandra Brooks. Felicia Jones, acting individually and on behalf of her mother's estate, filed a lawsuit in Harris County on January 3, 2025, against CHI St. Luke’s Health Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center and several other healthcare facilities. The lawsuit accuses these institutions of failing to provide adequate care for Brooks during her stays at their facilities.
Felicia Jones's complaint paints a harrowing picture of her mother's final months, alleging that the medical centers failed in their duty to care for Sandra Brooks, leading to severe health complications and ultimately her death. The defendants named in the suit include CHI St. Luke’s Health Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center, Kindred Hospitals Limited Partnership, Knight Health Holdings LLC d/b/a ScionHealth, and Oasis at Pearland LLC. According to the complaint, Sandra Brooks was admitted to Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center on October 25, 2023, where she underwent major surgeries including a double bypass and tracheostomy. Despite assurances from the hospital about their capability to manage her complex health conditions—which included congestive heart failure and end-stage renal disease—Brooks developed multiple pressure wounds during her stay.
The lawsuit further details how Brooks was transferred between various facilities operated by the defendants over several months. Each transfer allegedly resulted in worsening conditions due to neglectful care practices. For instance, after being moved to Kindred Hospital Houston Medical Center on November 18, 2023, it is claimed that staff failed to notice or treat progressing pressure wounds adequately. By December 24th of that year, these wounds had deteriorated significantly without proper intervention.
Jones accuses the healthcare providers of gross negligence and violations of both federal and state statutes designed to protect vulnerable nursing home residents like her mother. The suit highlights specific failures such as inadequate staffing levels and insufficient training for caregivers tasked with managing Brooks's complex medical needs. "Defendants owed Sandra Brooks a duty of care," states the petition, emphasizing how this obligation was breached repeatedly across different facilities.
In seeking justice for her mother’s suffering and untimely death on March 16th at HCA Houston Clear Lake due to septicemia from pneumonia—a condition allegedly acquired through negligent care—Jones requests compensatory damages exceeding jurisdictional limits along with punitive damages aimed at deterring similar misconduct by these institutions in future cases.
Representing Felicia Jones are attorneys Dawn M. Smith, Jessica Foster, and Constance Mutong from Smith Clinesmith LLP based in Dallas. The case is filed under ID number 2025-00352 in Harris County's judicial district court presided over by Judge Gerardo Perez.