Patient dies after waiting 22 hours for assistance at a NC hospital

The Associated Press reported yesterday that a psychiatric patient died after workers at a North Carolina hospital left him for 22 hours without food or bathroom assistance. According to an investigator's report released on Monday, Steven Sabock, 50, died in April after sitting in a wheelchair, unattended, for four work shifts. The report also found that Mr Sabock had nothing to eat on the day he died, and had little food in the three days before his death. It also said that workers were supposed to be closely monitoring Mr Sabock's condition, and may have forged documents that said they had. A hospital surveillance video shows Mr Sabock, at one point, choking on his medication while a nurse stood by without helping him. The video also shows hospital staff watching television and playing cards only a few feet away. The state has until August 23 to file a report with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services detailing what changes officials are making, it is reported - if the report is rejected, federal funding to the facility will be cut off.

For other reports in the media, see here and here ...