Video Shows Horrific Fire-Related Death of Man in Chicago Nursing Home
The New York Daily News had a horrific story last week about a wheelchair-bound Chicago man who caught fire and died at a nursing home in 2011. The man rolled around hysterically while employees attempted to spray him with a fire extinguisher and wheeled him outside.
According to the Daily News, Michael Lewis was smoking on a patio outside of the Lake Shore HealthCare and Rehabilitation Centre when a lighter in his pocket set his shirt on fire. Lewis attempted to roll himself inside to seek help as the flames ignited.
Surveillance video obtained by the media shows other patients trying to put out the flames on Lewis. Eventually, a staff member with an extinguisher rolled Lewis outside and put the fire out. Several minutes later, a staff member came out with an oxygen tank, as EMS crews arrived to the scene and tried to resuscitate Lewis.
Lewis’ family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lake Shore HealthCare and Rehabilitation Centre, saying that the only safety precaution the facility took was placing a surveillance camera outside of the designated smoking area.
“He burned to death,” Lisa Couch, Lewis’ sister told CBS News. “He sustained burns from mid-thigh up to the eyebrows.”
Aside from not having proper staffing available to man smoking areas, as we reported in Monday’s blog, many nursing homes in the U.S. operate with limited sprinkler systems, not designed to handle larger fires.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed because of nursing home abuse or neglect, contact our firm toll free at 877-699-1152 for a free consultation. Rockland County nursing home attorney Jeffrey M. Adams and his legal team believe that the management and staff at nursing homes, group homes and assisted living facilities owe residents safe, secure and protective facilities.
According to the Daily News, Michael Lewis was smoking on a patio outside of the Lake Shore HealthCare and Rehabilitation Centre when a lighter in his pocket set his shirt on fire. Lewis attempted to roll himself inside to seek help as the flames ignited.
Surveillance video obtained by the media shows other patients trying to put out the flames on Lewis. Eventually, a staff member with an extinguisher rolled Lewis outside and put the fire out. Several minutes later, a staff member came out with an oxygen tank, as EMS crews arrived to the scene and tried to resuscitate Lewis.
Lewis’ family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lake Shore HealthCare and Rehabilitation Centre, saying that the only safety precaution the facility took was placing a surveillance camera outside of the designated smoking area.
“He burned to death,” Lisa Couch, Lewis’ sister told CBS News. “He sustained burns from mid-thigh up to the eyebrows.”
Aside from not having proper staffing available to man smoking areas, as we reported in Monday’s blog, many nursing homes in the U.S. operate with limited sprinkler systems, not designed to handle larger fires.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed because of nursing home abuse or neglect, contact our firm toll free at 877-699-1152 for a free consultation. Rockland County nursing home attorney Jeffrey M. Adams and his legal team believe that the management and staff at nursing homes, group homes and assisted living facilities owe residents safe, secure and protective facilities.
