Nursing Home Resident Eaten Alive by Highly Treatable Scabies Infestation

Scabies (also sometimes referred to as “sarcoptic mange”) is a contagious skin rash caused by parasitic, burrowing mites that enter the body through the surface of the skin, burrow down, and lay eggs. This causes a number of painful symptoms, including:

• Sores
• Itching
• Red bumps
• Painful (often linear) rash
• Crust on the skin (in cases of severe scabies)
• Scaly patches that look similar to eczema

“Homicide by Neglect”: The Tragic Case of Rebecca Zeni

In Lafayette, Georgia, nursing home resident Rebecca Zeni passed away in 2013 as a result of scabies infestation that went unchecked and untreated for years. Zeni was a resident at Pruitt Health Shepherd Hills and, according to the autopsy report, her official cause of death was crusted scabies, an extensive, life-threatening scabies infestation.

The family claims nursing home staff knew about Zeni’s scabies infestation for years and failed to act or do anything to remedy the situation. Dr. Kris Sperry, a forensic pathologist who reviewed Zeni’s autopsy report, has called her death “homicide by neglect.”

Scabies is highly treatable and should never result in death, especially in a healthcare facility like the one where Rebecca Zeni lived.

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys Serving Greenville for 100+ Years

When nursing home staff members drop the ball and harm your loved one as a result, we are here to help. At Christian & Christian, we spend a lot of time advocating for elders and their family members in cases of nursing home neglect and abuse. We understand the heart-breaking and often life-threatening consequences that come from failure to provide appropriate care for seniors in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, and our Greenville nursing home abuse lawyers are here to serve you.