Tennessee Fines Nursing Home $50K For Patient Deaths

Tennessee state inspectors found widespread neglect resulting in patients’ deaths at a nursing home that has been fined $50,000, the most of any such penalty ever imposed.

The Commercial Appeal cites the inspection in a Wednesday report. In addition to the fines, state Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner ordered a freeze of any new admissions to Ashton Place Health and Rehabilitation Center in Memphis. He also appointed a monitor to oversee operations at the more than 200-bed facility.

A man admitted in July without visible wounds was transferred to a hospital multiple times for ulcers. He died Oct. 11 and hospital staffers found maggots in wounds that appeared to be untreated.

The worsening condition of a woman with ovarian cancer was not reported to her doctor. She died Oct. 24.