RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (Legal Newsline) — A medical services company hired by the Arkansas Department of Human Services is being accused of allowing a patient who died from an overdose to go unsupervised.
Lucy Williammee, as special administrator of the Estate of Jonathan Matthew Lee Duckworth-King, deceased, filed a complaint March 30 in the Circuit Court of Pope County against Empower Healthcare Solutions LLC, Friendship Community Care Inc., and John Does 1-5 alleging medical malpractice, wrongful death and other claims.
According to the plaintiff's complaint, Jonathan Duckworth-King was a patient at Friendship Community Care in Russellville and suffered from multiple mental health issues including bi-polar disorder and had limited intellectual, communication and decision-making ability. She alleges Duckworth-King relied on the facility's support services to continue living in his own home in the community.
The plaintiff claims Duckworth-King was found dead in his home in October of 2021, after suffering a heart attack as a result of an overdose of prescription medication. She further claims all his medication bottles were found empty and that more than 200 tablets were unaccounted for when his body was found. The plaintiff claims Duckworth-King was left unsupervised by the defendants' personnel for several nights and that the defendants failed to properly train and supervise its staff.
The plaintiff seeks monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Paul Ford of The Law Offices of Paul Ford in Jonesboro.