Caregiver Sentenced for Negligence Leading to Patient's Death

A caregiver has received a suspended prison sentence after being charged with negligent homicide for the death of a 94-year-old female patient. The Incheon District Court sentenced the 68-year-old caregiver, referred to as A, to one year in prison, suspended for two years. According to court documents, on June 8, 2023, at around 10:20 AM, A attempted to lift patient B, who was lying in bed, by wrapping her arms around B's neck. During this process, B slipped from the bed, resulting in a hip fracture. B later died on June 17 due to complications from multiple fractures, specifically an embolism. A was reportedly trying to transfer B from the bed to a wheelchair for bathing when the incident occurred. Judge Yoon Young-seok noted that while A's negligence led to B suffering for approximately ten days before her death, the impact of the fall was likely mitigated by A's grip on B. Additionally, B was already vulnerable due to her advanced age and osteoporosis. The judge considered A's acknowledgment of her mistake and remorse, as well as the fact that about 80% of the medical and funeral expenses claimed by B's family from the nursing home’s insurance had been paid. In a related case, the nursing home director, referred to as C, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence against her.