A 77-year-old Las Vegas woman was admitted to Sunrise Hospital with a broken hip and later died. Her family says a series of errors may have contributed to her death. In a medical malpractice lawsuit, Sandra Mount’s family alleges that nurses at Sunrise Hospital administered morphine despite a documented allergy and did not prevent a severe pressure ulcer that developed into a fatal infection. The complaint states that she was readmitted to the hospital with sepsis and died. Her family is seeking damages for medical and funeral expenses, as well as compensation for grief and loss of companionship.
What the lawsuit says
The complaint, filed Dec. 31, 2025, by attorney Andrew Thomas on behalf of Mount’s two sons, states that Mount was admitted after a fall in November 2023 that fractured her hip. According to the suit, hospital records indicated a morphine allergy, and both her chart and a colored wristband were intended to flag that risk. The complaint alleges that nurses administered morphine through her IV seven times during two separate hospital stays, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The lawsuit also alleges that after her initial treatment, Mount was discharged to a nursing facility and returned to Sunrise the following day with sepsis. Her family contends that errors during her hospital care contributed to her subsequent decline and death.
Expert: Alleged errors fall below standard
A nursing expert cited in the complaint told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that administering morphine to a patient with a known allergy falls below the accepted standard of care. Another expert cited in the suit concluded that alleged lapses in nursing standards contributed to Mount’s pressure ulcer and subsequent sepsis, according to the complaint.
The expert opinions are expected to play a key role if the case goes to trial, as both sides assess whether the hospital’s actions met accepted standards of nursing care.
Allegations of poor wound care and discharge
The complaint also alleges that staff failed to turn and reposition Mount every two hours, a standard measure to prevent bedsores, and waited a week before providing a specialized pressure-relief mattress. It further claims that her wounds were not properly cleaned or protected…