Chicago Nursing Home Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Over Bedsores
A nursing home wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in Chicago by two sisters who claim that their father died last year as a result of bedsores and other injuries which developed while he was a resident at Washington Heights Nursing Home for rehabilitation after a hospital stay.
The lawsuit claims that Stanley “Ted” Dancy, 77, was admitted to the nursing home after an illness that required hospital treatment. However, after one month in the nursing home for rehabilitation, he was transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was diagnosed with four advanced stage bed sores, as well as malnutrition and a urinary tract infection
As a result of the injuries sustained at the nursing home, Dancy’s health continued to deteriorate and the wrongful death lawsuit alleges that the bedsores and other injuries he sustained at Washington Heights Nursing Home were the contributing factors that lead to his death on December 12, 2007.
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Learn MoreThe family alleges that these injuries were caused by nursing home negligence during the month he was a resident at the facility.
Nursing home bedsores, which are also commonly referred to as decubitus ulcers or pressure sores, are caused by prolonged pressure on one area of the body. This pressure results in a lack of blood flow to the skin in that area, which can turn into an open would that may progress to a serious and potentially fatal infection.
When immobile residents are not repositioned for long periods of time, pressure can accumulate on one area of the skin, typically involving the thin layers of skin around the tailbone, shoulder blades, elbows or heels.
Nursing home bedsore lawsuits typically involve situations where the nursing home was not properly monitoring the resident for signs of the pressure ulcers and leaving the resident in one position for extended periods of time. Failure to properly clean the resident, change soiled adult diapers or bed sheets can also increase the risk of bedsores developing.
Injuries caused by nursing home malnutrition and dehydration also frequently lead to lawsuits, as a failure to provide adequate amounts of food or fluids to a resident are often linked to negligence and neglect.
The Chicago nursing home wrongful death lawsuit was filed on October 24, 2008 by Illinois attorney John J. Perconti.
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2 Comments
DeniseDecember 18, 2008 at 7:15 pm
My young 47 year old brother entered a hospital in Michigan for a basic hernia repair surgury. He died 6 months later from stage IV Pressure Ulcers acquired in the first week after his surgury. The surgeon, hospital, staff, risk management all hid the pressure ulcers until they had reached the point of no return. And the Surgeon that performed the surgury stating, " It was not my responsibility, a[Show More]My young 47 year old brother entered a hospital in Michigan for a basic hernia repair surgury. He died 6 months later from stage IV Pressure Ulcers acquired in the first week after his surgury. The surgeon, hospital, staff, risk management all hid the pressure ulcers until they had reached the point of no return. And the Surgeon that performed the surgury stating, " It was not my responsibility, and that he was sorry." This Ann Arbor Hospital let my brother die worse than a dog would. Risk Management would not even let us see the pressure ulcers without them present in the room. And their response was also I am sorry. My brothers wounds were tunneled so deep, that his tailbone showed. Nothing was left of his buttocks area, and I mean nothing. He was on medicaid, transfered from one resident doctor to another every other day. No one cared, (The nurses however did try and keep him alive, bless their hearts) You see once a pressure ulcer reaches Stage three and four they are never going to heal. Look at Christopher Reeves. He had the best of care and still died of a Pressure Ulcer. Pressure Ulcers are now considered never events by medicaid and medicare as of October 2008. Meaning, that medicaire and medicaid will no longer pay for Stage three and four pressure ulcers. Will this improve the system of Prevention. I surely hope so. Pressure ulcers have been declared preventable, and unnecessary. With proper turning procedures implemented, and risk assestment implemented Pressures ulcers in Hospital settings and Nursing homes should never ever happen. It is too late for my brother. I watched him for six months die a horrible death. For everyone that has someone in a health care facility, always, always, make certain that they are being turned every two hours. Bed sores happen very very quickly. They can develope in less that two days if the proper turning and assestment for them is not being implemented. Never never assume that the hospital has check all body parts for the beginnin of a pressure ulcer. You must be the advocate for your loved ones. If you believe that because your loved one is at the best of the best hospitals and it could not happen to them, think again. Mine was. This hospital that let him die was a five star hospital. Health care systems are broken, hospitals have no funds, staff is short, and medicaid and medicare is broken. But, pressure ulcers are preventable, that is why Medicaid and medicare will no longer pay for them. Just too late for my brother. Rest in Peace dear brother.
SonjaDecember 4, 2008 at 7:21 pm
My Dad died Dec. 21st 2007 he was in a nursing home. He had stage 4 bedsores. Now... I'm sueing the nursing home. I hope I get everything I can.