$425,000 Settlement in Failure to Turn and Reposition Rehabilitation, Nursing Home Patient

Ms. Doe, 87, suffered a broken hip and underwent surgical repair. She was subsequently admitted to a nursing home for rehabilitation. It was noted at the time of the admission that she had a red area on her sacrum. Ms. Doe received an air mattress to relieve pressure on her sacral area but not until almost one month later.

Ms. Doe’s sacral area continued to deteriorate. However, her daily progress notes indicated there was no wound present. A nurse practitioner urged the nursing home staff to turn and reposition Ms. Doe, but this advice allegedly was ignored. The staff claimed it continued to document the absence of any wound.

Ms. Doe’s family noticed a foul odor and discovered she had a sacral pressure wound which was deemed to be Stage IV.

Ms. Doe was admitted to a hospital for treatment, including surgical debridement. Despite this procedure, the wound was infected, and Ms. Doe remained hospitalized for 12 additional days.

Ms. Doe was discharged home to hospice care and was turned and repositioned by family members every two hours until the wound healed, which took about six months.

The lawsuit alleged liability against the nursing home for Ms. Doe’s pain and suffering and her medical bills.

Before trial, the case was settled for $425,000.

The attorney representing Ms. Doe was attorney Carlton F. Bennett.

Doe v. Roe, Confidential Docket.

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling nursing home abuse cases, nursing home pressure sore cases, nursing home wrongful death lawsuits, and nursing home negligence cases for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 50 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Palatine, Palos Hills, Crestwood, Forest Park, Park Forest, Park Ridge, Chicago (Uptown, Bronzeville, Grand Crossing, Burnside, Beverly, Back of the Yards, Albany Park, East Rogers Park), Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Addison, Wheaton, Romeoville, Tinley Park, Hoffman Estates and Bensenville, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.