Tragic Death Highlights Care Home Negligence Concerns
A 41-year-old man with developmental disabilities died from an extreme case of constipation, with a staggering 1.4st of impacted faeces found in his bowels, after reportedly not having a bowel movement for up to a month.
The family of James Stewart has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, claiming his death on November 15, 2024, was "entirely avoidable." The legal action targets Clear Skies Ahead, the group home in Bazetta Township, Ohio, where James resided.
Ignored Warning Signs and a Known Medical History
According to legal documents, James required daily supervision and assistance and had a known "history of constipation." He was also taking medication that caused severe side effects in his digestive system.
Despite this, the lawsuit alleges that staff at the facility ignored his complaints and clear physical symptoms. In the days leading to his death, James was described as "despondent, low energy, and complaining of pain."
Staff reportedly noticed his unusually swollen stomach and even bruising on his abdomen, yet failed to take adequate action.
A Final, Fatal Day
On the day of his death, a staff member allegedly told James to "sit on the toilet" after he was unable to defecate. He was later discovered collapsed in his bedroom.
James was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead. His family remembers him as a man who loved music, swimming, and sporting events.
Attorney Matt Mooney, representing the family, stated that the care home was fully aware of James's condition. "They should have been paying close attention to whether James was having bowel movements, and they just weren’t," he told 21News.
