Nursing Home Blamed For Un-checked Urinary Tract Infection
One of the more common nursing home injuries that I see commonly involves the development of a urinary tract infection during an admission to a facility. Commonly referred to as a UTI, a urinary tract infection can involve any of the part of the urinary system comprised of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Most UTI's are caused by bacteria from the colon that gets introduced to the urinary tract. However, particular patients with catheters, may develop UTI's when bacteria is introduced from other sources such as poor sanitation by staff at a skilled nursing facility. Women are significantly...
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Nursing Home Spotlight: Emeritus at Prospect Heights; Prospect Heights, IL
On June 9, 2011, the Illinois Department of Health issued a “Type A” violation and $25,000 fine against the Emeritus at Prospect Heights Nursing Home, in Prospect Heights, Illinois. The sanctions are in response to an incident that occurred on February 22, where a male resident wandered out of the home and was struck and killed by an SUV. According to a survey from April 14, multiple eyewitnesses saw the incident occur. Those from outside the nursing home said the man spent a significant amount of time wandering in the street before he was hit. Despite having an “alert...
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Nursing Home Abuse: Facilty Allows Patient To Fall 45 Times!
When I first saw a recent news report about a Canadian nursing home patient that fell 45 times over a six-month period, I began to question my reading skills as the number seemed to be downright shocking! As it turns out, my eyes are indeed in good order as are the journalistic skills of the Canadian reporter who prepared the story. Hidden camera footage captured the man, who is afflicted with Parkinson's and Dementia, repeatedly falling at the nursing home where he was living. In addition to the alarming pattern of falls, the videotape confirming abusive behavior on the part...
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Inadequate Staffing Alleged In Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Nursing Home
A Kentucky nursing home was named in a recently wrongful death lawsuit filed by the widow of a patient who was allegedly neglected at the facility. Donna Anderson's lawsuit cites inadequate staffing and ongoing deficiencies as the primary reasons for her husband's physical decline and eventual death at Madison Manor nursing home. According to news reports of the lawsuit, Robert Anderson was at Madison Manor from April 9th through May 22nd of 2009 when he developed an infection on his foot. The infection progressed to the point that his foot needed to be amputated and eventually contributed to his death....
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Nursing Home Management Comapny Ordered To Pay $2 Million For Pateint's Death
A jury in Georgia has ordered the management company of a nursing home to pay $2 million in compensatory damages to the estate of a woman who died at a facility they operated. Shortly after entering jury deliberations, the jury ordered Subacute Services, Inc., the operator of Rockmart Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to pay the award in relation to the death of 82-year-old Ruby Mae Taylor. According to news reports, Ms. Taylor's family initiated the nursing home lawsuit, after her death related to development of decubitus ulcers that she developed during her admission to the facility. Decubitus ulcers, also known...
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Lawsuit Alleges That Even After Death, Chicago Nursing Home Fails To Respect Families Wishes
A somewhat unusual lawsuit has been filed by the family of a deceased nursing home patient against a Chicago nursing home. Unlike most nursing home lawsuits seeking damages for injuries or death to an individual, a lawsuit filed by the family of a deceased patient at Ridgeview Nursing Home seeks damages for emotional distress after the facility allegedly failed to notify them of the death of their mother. According the the allegations made in the lawsuit, Lovera Staples had been a patient at Ridgeview Nursing Home since 1991. Sometime in April, 2010 Ms. Staples was admitted to nearby Saint Frances...
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Doctor Alleges Dehydration & Malnutrition In Nursing Home Lawsuit On Behalf Of Relative
A Kentucky jury is hearing evidence in wrongful death lawsuit against a nursing home that allegedly failed to provide sufficient nutrition and fluids which in turn contributed to her death. The lawsuit was initiated by a physician who is a relative of the deceased patient. According to information contained in the lawsuit and remarks made by attorney’s during opening statements, the woman was admitted to Woodland Oaks from May 24, 2003 to June 30, 2003 for rehabilitation from a recent hip fracture. It was during her admission that staff failed to provide proper care and allowed her to become dehydration...
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Should Nursing Homes Restrict The Sexual Activity Of Disabled Patients?
A recently filed lawsuit accuses Rainbow Beach Nursing Center (Chicago, IL) of negligently attending to the sexual health of a schizophrenic patient who became pregnant during her admission to the facility. The family of the patient who gave birth to a handicapped boy, claims that the facility was negligent for allowing mentally disabled patients to engage in sexual relations without comprehending the impacts of their actions. According to the patient's sister, Shaune Williamson Ofori-Amanfo, "These facilities accept responsibility for caring for people who aren't capable of making life decisions. They accept the responsibility of giving them food, of cleaning...
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Turning & Repositioning By Nursing Home Staff Blamed For The Leg Fractures Of Patient
Turning and repositioning are key elements in the prevention of decubitus ulcers (also known as: pressure ulcers, pressure sores or bed sores). In the process of repositioning patients, staff are to move the patient in their bed to relieve unrelieved pressure from areas on the body in contact with the bed. Depending on the patients size and ability to move themselves, one or more staff members may be required to assist in the repositioning process. Regardless of how many staff are involved in the repositioning process, moving patients should be done gently as feasible to avoid alarming them to...
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New Illinois Court Decision Holds That No Punitive Damages Can Be Awarded In Survival Actions Involving Nursing Home Negligence
Some of the substantial verdicts we have recently discussed at the Nursing Homes Abuse Blog here and here involve jury verdicts with punitive damage components. While some of these verdicts may seem excessive, most of the time the damages are awarded because the facilities conduct was so extreme that it deserves to be punished. In most jurisdictions, the punitive damages can only be pursued after a judge has approved the punitive damage portion of the lawsuit. Unlike compensatory damages, that compensate an injured party, punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoing facility. While punitive damages may be awarded against one...
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