Monday, March 16, 2015

BLIND WOMAN SUES SENIOR CARE CENTER OVER CHEMICAL BURNS WHEN SHE WALKED THROUGH A PUDDLE OF BLEACH AND AMMONIA WITH THIN SOCKS ON




MARCH 14, 2015

CHARLESTON, S.C. 

A blind woman is suing a senior care center near Charleston, saying she was severely burned when she walked through a puddle of bleach and ammonia with thin socks on.

Joyce Thomas suffered chemical burns that led to an infection and severe pain in her feet after walking through the puddle in the kitchen of Aging Gracefully Senior Care Services in Ladson in August 2013, according to the lawsuit.

The senior care center was negligent because the dangerous puddle should have been mopped up, according to the lawsuit obtained by The Post and Courier of Charleston (http://bit.ly/1EkMmuI).

The burns and complications from having diabetes for 32 years are keeping Thomas from walking.

"She suffered loss of enjoyment of life, pleasures of daily living and ability to operate around the home and do some work without pain," Thomas' lawyer wrote in the suit.

Thomas' medical bills were nearly $46,000, her lawyer said. The woman is asking for that and punitive damages from the negligence of the senior center.
The newspaper says the senior care center didn't return phone calls seeking comment.

Thomas also sued Roper St. Francis Health Care, saying one of the hospital's nurses made the situation worse by telling her to just wash her feet with water instead of giving her immediate medical attention.

The hospital said the claims by the lawsuit are wrong and plans to defend itself, spokesman Andy Lyons said.
Source: http://www.newsobserver.com