Minnesotan’s have seen in the news the loss of a local priest and victim of war injuries from Iraq, Father Tim Vakroc. Father Vakroc was critically wounded in a roadside bomb attack near Mosul in May 2004. Even though he survive the bomb blast he could not survive the poor care and treatment he received in a Minnesota Nursing Home, St. Therese whe he was injured in an improper transfer from his wheel chair to bed. Father Vakroc fell during the transfer and sustained an injury to his head, causing his death.
Unfortunately as an attorney that handles nursing home abuse and neglect cases in Minnesota I see this scenario too often. Most of the cases I see involved a fall from either transfer using less than the required number of people or from old and poorly maintained lift equipment. Both of these causes could be prevented. Nursing Homes need to invest in hiring the necessary numbers of well trained fully vetted staff. Nursing Homes also need to spend the necessary capital to maintain and purchase safe and modern transfer lifts for their residents.
The Father Vakroc case is so tragic and newsworthy due to his personal story and the completely avoidable nature of his accident.
For more information about the death of Father Vakroc at St. Therese see: August 25, 2009, WCCO: Nursing Assistants ‘Devastated’ in Vakroc Death and Star and Tribune: 2 Nursing Assistants Blamed for Priest’s Fall.This website is not to provide legal advice as each situation is different and specific factual information must be obtained before an attorney is able to assess the legal questions relevant to your situation. In addition to providing related information this blog may also be considered an advertisement for legal services.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or abuse in a nursing home or other care facility that serves the elderly in Minnesota , please contact our firm for a free consultation and information regarding the obligations of the facility and your rights as a resident or concerned family member. To contact attorney Kenneth LaBore, directly please send an email to klabore@prslegal.com, or call Ken at 612-767-7503.
Improper Transfer in Nursing Home leads to Death of Priest
Published On: 27th August 2009