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Medical malpractice

Jane Doe, age 87 broke her hip on February 19, 2023, which was surgically repaired. She was admitted to Woe nursing home on February 23, 2023 for rehab. Upon admission it was noted that she had a red area on her sacrum. She was at high risk for developing pressure sores due to her limited bed mobility causing her to be unable to turn and reposition herself. A low air loss mattress was ordered to relieve pressure on her sacral area but was not placed until March 17, 2023. Doe’s sacral area continued to deteriorate but Woe’s nursing staff failed to turn and reposition her and in daily progress notes noted that there was no wound present. The sacral pressure wound continued to deteriorate and a nurse practitioner urged the staff to turn and reposition the patient. The chart showed that Doe’s wound was ignored and the staff continued to document daily that there was no wound present. By March 23, 2023 the wound had deteriorated to a stage IV pressure wound. On that date the family discovered the wound because of its foul odor. Woe was admitted to the hospital on March 23, 2023 and the wound was surgically debrided of dead tissue. This stage IV sacral pressure wound extended into the muscle, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and down to the bone. As a result the wound became severely infected. Woe experienced severe pain and was not discharged from the hospital until April 4, 2023. The family brought Doe home on hospice care, turned and repositioned her every two hours at home and healed the stage IV wound over a period of six months. Plaintiff filed a survivorship action for her pain and suffering and medical bills.