ORANGE PARK, Fla.—A brother and sister are disgusted and upset with how their mother allegedly spent her final days in the hospital.
They have filed a lawsuit against Orange Park Medical Center, claiming maggots were found in her mouth and other parts of her body.
“She was fiercely independent,” said Fred Mooneyham.
Fred Mooneyham and his sister, Patti, remember their mother Dorothy, as a vibrant and funny woman.
“She was not a weak and frail woman in spirit or in body,” added Patti Mooneyham.
But, they say there is now a different image of their mom that will forever live in their minds.
“The only impression I have of my mother’s death, instead of her going peacefully, is her laying in a bed like this,” said Fred Mooneyham.
The lawsuit alleges that Dorothy Mooneyham was admitted to the hospital Nov. 13, 2015, and, while there, she suffered a heart attack and was moved to the ICU. She was there until Dec. 11.
The lawsuit states, while she was there, her mouth and other parts of her body became infested with maggots.
“It was wrong. It was disrespectful. It was disgraceful,” said Patti Mooneyham.
The lawsuit claims the hospital failed to maintain safe and sanitary conditions in the intensive care unit. The suit also claims Mooneyham did not receive appropriate oral care and bathing.
“None of it was detected until the maggots actually started coming out of her mouth the next day,” said Attorney Frank Ashton. “This went on for a period of three days.”
Orange Park Medical Center released this statement:
We are aware of the outrageous and inaccurate allegations that have been made. While we understand the grief of losing a loved one and we offer our condolences to this family, we are proud of the skilled and compassionate care our team provides every day to our patients, and we will vehemently defend this case in court.
We are aware of the outrageous and inaccurate allegations that have been made. While we understand the grief of losing a loved one and we offer our condolences to this family, we are proud of the skilled and compassionate care our team provides every day to our patients, and we will vehemently defend this case in court.