The California Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that it had fined and cited Goldstar Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for the choking death of a patient two years ago. The fine was in the amount of $100,000, and the citation was the most severe one allowable under state law.

The penalties were assessed after investigators determined that staff at the Santa Monica nursing home did not abide by policies and procedures related to patient care.

Santa Monica Patch's calls for comment from the nursing-home administration, as well as representatives from the California Department of Health, were not returned by time of publish.

The patient in question is a 60-year-old who, in June 2008, was admitted to Goldstar with thyroid problems and multiple sclerosis. His name has not been released.

After he was admitted, doctors placed the patient on a soft-food diet, due to the fact that he had lost most of his teeth and was experiencing difficulty chewing.

In April 2009, Goldstar staged a dinner during which pork chops prepared by a staff member were served to the patient. He passed out for 10 to 15 minutes after choking on the food. Even though he was resuscitated, he died roughly a week later at another medical facility.

Goldstar Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is located at 1340 15th St.

City News Service contributed to this report.