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32 | [CONTINUED FROM LIC 9099-C, 2 of 3] Academic research for this case showed: A headache, in and of itself, does not reliably indicate external trauma. A headache can have another internal physiological basis, such as hypertension. Confusion, in and of itself, does not reliably indicate external trauma. Confusion can have another internal physiological basis, such as hypertension. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Hypertensive encephalopathy is brain dysfunction caused by extremely high blood pressure,” of which headache and confusion are both hallmark symptoms, and “most adults who experience hypertensive encephalopathy enter the emergency room with a dangerously high reading greater than 220/130 mmHg, but it could sometimes occur with blood pressure readings as low as 160/100 mmHg.” According to the National Institutes of Health, an intracerebral hemorrhage is “a severe type of stroke occurring when a ruptured blood vessel causes bleeding inside the brain, creating pressure, destroying brain tissue, and blocking oxygen,” and “it is often caused by chronic hypertension.” The NIH also reports, “Hypertension is the most common cause of spontaneous, primary intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) in adults, with high blood pressure causing small vessels to rupture. It typically presents with sudden headache, nausea, and altered consciousness.”
With the available evidence, the Department concluded: R1’s fall on 03/22/2025 was not a proximate cause of R1’s elevated blood pressure; hypertension was a preexisting chronic condition for R1. While R1 arrived at the ER in a state of hypertensive crisis on 03/29/2025, R1’s stroke/cerebral hemorrhage occurred the following day while R1 was under hospital care (and not at the facility). Hospital staff determined R1’s stroke/cerebral hemorrhage was “nontraumatic,” meaning R1’s earlier fall on 03/22/2025 was not a proximate cause for the stroke/hemorrhage’s occurrence (8) days later, on 03/30/2025. The “nontraumatic” nature of the stroke/cerebral hemorrhage was reiterated on R1’s official death certificate. The available evidence does not support that the 03/22/2025 fall itself caused R1 pain or injuries warranting immediate hospital care on that date, or on successive days. The available evidence cannot prove that R1’s blood pressure was elevated during their fall on 03/22/2025, or on the successive days between the fall and 03/28/2025, or that Licensee’s staff had constructive knowledge of R1’s elevated blood pressure for which they also failed to timely respond to. Based on records and interviews, a preponderance of evidence does not exist to prove Licensee culpability in R1’s death, or that Licensee did not arrange timely medical care for R1. Both allegations are therefore Unsubstantiated, and no deficiencies were cited for them.
An exit interview was conducted with Executive Director Diana Weinstein, to whom a copy of this report and the Licensee/Appeal Rights (LIC9058 03/22) were provided. |