Violet Smith not killed by burns at care home, inquest rules

Jun 18 2009 Dave Himelfield

A GRANDMOTHER who suffered severe burns in a care home accident did not die from her injuries, an inquest has ruled.

Violet Smith, 87, died on February 23 2008 at The Charlton Centre nursing home, Carlinghow, Batley, after sustaining four per cent burns at the home in January.

Mrs Smith, who had Alzheimer’s and dementia and needed 24-hour care, was scalded when she was placed on a commode full of hot water.

But yesterday Huddersfield Coroner’s court ruled Mrs Smith had died from natural causes.

Recording his verdict coroner Roger Whittaker said: “The burns sustained on the occasion were healing and unrelated to the cause of death.”

The inquest heard Mrs Smith, a retired production worker, had been rushed to Wakefield Pinderfields Hospital for skin grafts following the accident.

She was discharged following the operation but later suffered a chest infection and died.