Nursing Home Indicted In Patient's Suicide
MONTROSE (AP) — An indictment blames a Southern California nursing home and its former administrator for the death of a suicidal patient.
Attorney General Kamala D. Harris said Monday that Verdugo Valley Skilled Nursing and Wellness Centre and former administrator Phyllis Paver face abuse and neglect charges in the death of Charles Morrill.
Harris says the 34-year-old Morrill was accepted into the facility despite its lack of equipment or staff trained to handle patients with mental illness.
Morrill, who had a long history of psychiatric illness, attempted suicide three times while there. He was successful the last time.
A call to the facility was not immediately returned.
If convicted, the facility could lose its license and federal funds. It's not clear what kind of penalty Paver could face.
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