Family Sues Facility Over Nurse's Alleged Abuse and Wrongful Death of Patient, Facing Multiple Charges From Wrongdoing at Other Facilities Across Pennsylvania

The family of a severely diabetic man, who authorities claim died due to mistreatment by a nurse overseeing his care, has filed a wrongful death suit against the facility where he resided. The suit alleges negligence and failure to prevent abuse that ultimately led to his death.

Nicholas Cymbol, 43, was a resident at Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Butler County, Pennsylvania, where he required around-the-clock care due to his medical conditions. He was a "brittle diabetic," experiencing large swings in blood glucose levels, and also suffered from an anoxic brain injury, blindness, and neuropathy.

The lawsuit, filed by the family's attorney Rob Peirce, accuses the facility and its operator of negligence, claiming they failed to train employees to recognize and report abuse. It also alleges that they neglected to remove the nurse responsible for the mistreatment, despite multiple red flags.

The nurse in question, Heather Pressdee, faces charges for administering excessive doses of insulin to patients, resulting in the deaths of 17 individuals across five different care facilities. Cymbol's family contends that Pressdee bullied and abused him, contributing to his demise.

According to the complaint, Pressdee routinely insulted and berated Cymbol, preventing him from receiving proper care and nourishment. She allegedly called him derogatory terms related to his brain injury in front of other staff members and singled him out during meal times.

Pressdee's behavior, as described in the lawsuit, extended beyond verbal abuse. On one occasion, she reportedly told colleagues that Cymbol "was going to be the next one to die anyway." Despite these alarming statements and actions, the facility failed to take decisive action to protect Cymbol and other residents under her care.

The suit alleges that Pressdee's mistreatment of residents was not isolated to Cymbol but was pervasive throughout the facility. It claims that multiple staff members noticed suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths of residents she had access to, raising concerns about her involvement.

On April 30, 2023, Cymbol's condition took a severe turn when Pressdee administered an excessive dose of insulin, causing his blood sugar levels to plummet. Despite attempts to reverse the effects, she delayed calling for emergency assistance until confronted by other staff members. Cymbol was hospitalized for hypoglycemia but was discharged and returned to Sunnyview the same day.

Tragically, Cymbol's condition continued to deteriorate, and he was found in a hypoglycemic crisis early on May 1. Despite efforts to save him, he passed away shortly after, with the cause of death initially attributed to a myocardial infarction.

It wasn't until later that the true cause of Cymbol's death came to light. An investigation by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General revealed that Pressdee had administered the lethal dose of insulin, leading to criminal charges against her.

Pressdee's arrest and subsequent charges shed light on a pattern of alleged neglect and abuse that extended beyond Cymbol's case. She faced multiple charges of attempted homicide and neglect of care-dependent persons in connection with deaths at various facilities across Pennsylvania.

The family's lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, demanding accountability for the facility's alleged role in Cymbol's death. Peirce, representing the family, emphasized the need for answers regarding Pressdee's continued employment despite her troubling behavior.

Heather Pressdee's attorneys, Phil DiLucente and Jim DePasquale, emphasized that they are not involved in the civil lawsuits but acknowledged the possibility of their client pleading guilty to the criminal charges. A status hearing is scheduled for May, where further developments in the case may emerge.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the family of Nicholas Cymbol hopes to uncover the truth behind his tragic death and hold accountable those responsible for the alleged mistreatment and negligence that contributed to his untimely passing.

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