PITTSBURGH — A son claims his father died due to a Pittsburgh nursing home's neglect.
Brian Pfister, as executor of the estate of William Albert Pfister and on behalf of others who are similarly situated, filed a complaint July 5 in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County against Vincentian Collaborative Systems, alleging wrongful death and other claims.
The plaintiff alleges that his father William Pfister, who became a resident at the Vincentian Home in 2017, died in September of 2020, as a result of the defendant's negligent care. Specifically, Pfister claims Vincentian's staff allowed his father to become chronically dehydrated on several occasions which caused him to go into code and require hospitalization.
He further claims his father suffered frequent urinary tract infections, one of which traveled to his lungs and caused him to die in an emergency room. Pfister also claims the defendant improperly had his father sign an end-of-life order despite him already appointing his son as power of attorney over such decisions and his father having diminished mental capacity.
He alleges that Vincentian has a prior history of understaffing and that many of their residents suffer neglect and dehydration. He claims he advised the staff and management of the issue but they took no corrective actions.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by David Kobylinski and Peter Kobylinski of The Praetorian Law Group LLC in Pittsburgh.