Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog
In a recent article discussing decubitus ulcers, a leading cause of nursing home injury and death in this country affecting nearly one million Americans every year, our Maryland-based attorneys from Lebowitz and Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have read about another tragic case, where a resident of a nursing home developed multiple non-healing pressure ulcers that allegedly lead to his death.
According to the lawsuit, Edwin Ley developed multiple pressure sores or decubitus ulcers while staying in Collinsville Rehabilitation and Health Care, that developed on his buttocks, feet, elbows and coccyx. Ley reportedly died from the complications of these sores and from severe malnourishment and neglect while being a patient at the center from December 4, 2007 through January 23, 2008.
When a nursing home resident rests for too long in one position without shifting weight, the resident’s blood supply to the skin is cut off, due to unrelieved pressure. The skin then begins to breaks down, and causes decubitus ulcers to form.
The suit was filed by Dorothy Ley, special administrator for Ley’s estate, and she states in the complaint that Ley’s condition deteriorated to such an extreme state that he was sent to the emergency room and diagnosed with dehydration and pressure ulcers. Edwin Ley died on June 10, 2008 from his condition, and according to the suit, in the months before his death, he suffered pain, disability, medical costs, and disfigurement.
Dorothy Ley accused the staff at Collinsville Rehabilitation of nursing home neglect—for failure to provide adequate staffing, failure to properly train employees on how to treat and prevent bedsores, and for failure to identify that Edwin was at-risk for potential skin breakdown and the development of decubitus ulcers. She is seeking a judgment of over $50,000 as well as attorney’s costs and fees.
In a related blog, our nursing home negligence lawyers discussed the risk of pressure sores, how to detect them, treat them, and prevent them from developing in the future.
If a nursing home fails to protect residents from developing pressure ulcers that can result in injury or death, the nursing home could be held liable for nursing home negligence or wrongful death. Our Maryland-based attorneys at Lebowitz and Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers represent victims and their families in Maryland and the Washington D.C. area who wish to recover personal injury compensation from nursing home negligence and harm. Contact us today.
Collinsville Rehab Named in Malpractice Complaint, Madison/St. Clair Record, December 29, 2009
Related Web Resources:
NCHS Data Brief: Pressure Ulcers Among Nursing Home Residents: United States 2004