A nursing home negligence lawsuit was filed by the husband of a patient at Maple Ridge Care Center, following the alleged poor care she received at the facility in 2009. The lawsuit alleges that 63-year-old Carol Harrison was admitted to Maple Ridge for rehabilitation and ventilator care following surgical complications at local hospital.
Staff at Maple Ridge Care Center allegedly failed to monitor the fact that Mrs. Harrison developed deep vein thrombosis in her leg which eventually required amputation and hastened her death.
The Illinois nursing home lawsuit is currently pending in Macon County Circuit Court.
Deep Vein Thrombisis (DVT)
Deep vein thrombosis is a potentially fatal medical complication that staff in nursing homes and hospitals should be on the lookout for. People with limited mobility may be at heightened risk for developing DVT due to their compromised circulation.
Some patients at risk for DVT may be prescribed blood thinners such as Warfarin to reduce the chance of blood clots. Common indicators of DVT in a leg is swelling and discoloration of the limb. When these conditions are discovered, it is imperative that nurses notify the patients physician so medical treatment can be timely implemented to avoid further medical complications.
Related News and Nursing Homes Abuse Blog Entries:
Never Event #5: Deep Vein Thrombosis / Pulmonary Embolism Following Surgery
A Graphic Example Of Nursing Home Negligence: Amputation Of A Leg Due To Untreated Bed Sores
Lincoln nursing home sued over care of resident by Dean Olsen, The State Journal Register, January 13, 2011
Deep vein thrombosis extremity amputation (PDF) By Richard A. Yeager, MD, Gregory L. Moneta, MD, James M. Edwards, MD, Lloyd M. Taylor, Jr., MD, Donald B. McConnell, MD, and John M. Porter, MD, Portland, Ore.