Family Files Suit in Hospital Death
A 63-year-old Torrance man died after he was left unattended and fell out of a hospital bed following brain surgery at South Bay Hospital last February, his family has charged in connection with a lawsuit filed Wednesday.
The suit in Torrance Superior Court charges Dr. Melvin Snyder, South Bay Hospital and its parent company, American Medical International Inc., with negligence in the death of Donald Tomkinson.
Snyder could not be reached for comment. The hospital declined to respond to the charges Wednesday.
Tomkinson had surgery to remove a benign brain tumor Feb. 2 at the hospital in Redondo Beach, his daughter Jacqueline Tomkinson said. Two days later, he was recovering in the intensive care unit and he asked to be left alone to use a bedpan, the daughter said.
She returned to find him unconscious on the floor. He died Feb. 7 after life-support systems were removed.
“He was doing very well,” Jacqueline Tomkinson said. “He was glad the surgery was over and he was anxious to get home and rest and recover at home.”
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