Son of woman who died after falling off bedpan sues hospital

GRETNA – A lawsuit has been filed by the son of a woman who died after allegedly falling off a bedpan while it was being adjusted beneath her.

Brian Hooks filed suit against Jefferson Parish Hospital District No. 1 and West Jefferson Medical Center in the 24th Judicial District Court on July 9.

Hooks claims that the deceased, Catherine Hooks, was a patients at West Jefferson Medical Center when she was being adjusted on top of a bed pan, fell to the floor face first and coded. The plaintiff alleges that the deceased was resuscitated after 40 minutes, but was pronounced brain dead due to a lack of oxygen to the brain and died eight days later.

The defendant is accused of failing to safely and appropriately readjust the deceased to the prevent the incident, failing to provide a safe method of readjusting the deceased, failing to properly train or instruct employees on safe job performance and failing to prevent patient from falling.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for loss of love and affection, mental and emotional anguish and preterminal pain.

Hooks is represented by T. Carey Wicker III of New Orleans-based Capitelli & Wicker.

The case has been assigned to Division P Judge Lee V. Faulkner Jr.

Case no. 728-675.