Nursing home in Washington state accused of neglecting 97-year-old man with penile cancer

Lawsuit: Wash. nursing home neglects penile cancer

EVERETT, Wash. — A lawsuit has been filed against a Washington state nursing home accused of neglecting a 97-year-old man’s penile cancer.

The lawsuit from the man’s son, filed Wednesday in Snohomish County Superior Court, says the father was taken to an emergency room, where doctors discovered his penis had decayed, leaving a gaping wound. He died 18 days later, in March 2008.

Everett Rehabilitation and Care Center administrator Elizabeth Loyet told The Everett Herald she could not discuss the allegations because of federal privacy laws.

The lawsuit cites an investigation by the state Department of Social and Health Services, which shows the nurse told a manager in November 2007 that the man had a wound on his penis. The records say the manager forgot about the report.

Information from: The Herald, www.heraldnet.com