New Hampshire Woman Sues Hospital for Negligence over Fall

By Robin Chang

Published on November 12, 2007

Marilyn Winans and her husband filed suit in Belknap County Superior Court in May, holding the hospital responsible for her injuries. Mrs. Winans’ case against the hospital stems from an alleged botched hospital transfer; she was transferred from the Lakes Region General Hospital to Concord Hospital to undergo a cardiac evaluation.

At that time, the suit claims, the staff at Concord Hospital failed to recognize the potential risks of leaving Mrs. Winans unsupervised, namely that she was in poor medical health, is elderly, and was prone to falling when unsupervised. The lawsuit alleges that although Concord Hospital provided protective measures like bed rails, a call bell and a bed alarm, no additional supervision was provided to Mrs. Winans. At the time of the accident, Mrs. Winans was under the influence of sleep aids. She was found by her roommate on the floor of their room several hours after her last bed check.

The resulting injuries from the fall have left Mrs. Winans on the brink of death, the suit alleges. A CT scan following the fall indicated that Mrs. Winans had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, leaving her in a vegetative state. The couple is seeking undisclosed damages from the hospital. A court date has not been set.

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