Nursing Home Sued After Bed Sore Leads to Leg Amputation
Apr 26, 2013
Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) April 25, 2013 – The family of a man whose infected leg was amputated filed suit against his nursing home.
John Eric Rush, 49, alleged that staff negligence led to an infected bed sore on his left heel. The sore eventually forced doctors to amputate the leg above the knee, according to a statement released by Rush’s attorney.
Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN, a distributor of medical devices used in the prevention of bed sores and deep vein thrombosis, said that bed sores are a serious health threat to bedridden patients.
“Bed sores and blood clots are common problems in hospitals and nursing homes, and preventing them requires diligence on the part of caregivers,” Grambor commented. “But ultimately, they are preventable. Sequential compression devices can do a lot to improve blood flow in bedridden patients.”
The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court against Hillcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Joliet, Illinois, seeks damages in excess of $50,000.
The statement from Rush’s attorney said that Hillcrest staff were responsible for repositioning Rush frequently in order to prevent bed sores, and once he had a sore, their duty was to prevent it from getting worse. It quotes Andrea Kroesen, Rush’s sister-in-law, saying the amputation of his left leg has largely immobilized Rush because he was already paralyzed on his right side after a series of strokes.
“In this case, compression therapy might have made the difference in saving this man’s leg,” added Grambor. “There is no replacement for attentive care, but these devices play a big part in helping health care workers, many of whom work in understaffed facilities.”
Hillcrest has been the subject of much controversy. Following two resident deaths in the space of six months and accusations of physical and sexual assault, the facility’s Medicare and Medicaid payments were halted last year. The Illinois Department of Public Health intends to revoke Hillcrest’s license, but that action is being contested by the nursing home. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 15, 2013.
