MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
Hospital not liable for elderly patient’s fall
On Feb. 10, a jury declined to award damages to an elderly patient whose fall from a bedside commode allegedly played a role in her death. Jeaneet Gill was a patient at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano for respiratory compromise due to complications from leukemia. She fractured her spine in the fall. Defense counsel argued that Gill had requested privacy and a technician had assessed her and found her to be capable of being left alone. Defense counsel argued that the technician left her with a call light and instructions to not attempt to get up unassisted, which Gill disregarded.
