Major nursing home neglect is alleged against Center Management Group LLC in a recently filed pressure sore lawsuit, which was filed by a grieving daughter alleging one of their nursing homes was to blame for her mother’s death.

The pressure sore lawsuit is being filed by a woman from California, claiming that the staff at St. Francis Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare had failed in its contractual duty to take care of her mother. Plaintiff Shirley B. is filing this claim on behalf of her late mother Lois C., who allegedly died as a direct result of the severe nursing home neglect.

Shirley claims the staff allegedly ignored her condition, allowing her health to decline at a fast rate and eventually die from infectious sores. In addition, Lois reportedly developed an E. coli infection in her urinary tract and a fecal impaction that worsened her condition.

Overview of Pressure Sore Lawsuit

According to the pressure sore lawsuit, Lois had checked into the St. Francis Center after a joint replacement surgery on Nov. 8, 2014. At this time, Shirley says Lois was in fairly good health and was not suffering from any sores, ulcers, or other conditions that are named in the pressure sore lawsuit.

However, Shirley claims that in just under three years of being at the facility, Lois’ condition severely worsened, and she eventually died from septic shock and stage four decubitus ulcers on Sept. 7, 2017. During all times relevant, Shirley says Lois had been relying on the St. Francis Center staff to adequate care and to attend to any medical needs specified by her physician.

Shirley alleges Lois’s healthcare records show her health was on a steady decline, which Shirley claims was due to insufficient care and supervision. To illustrate the decline of Lois’ health, the pressure sore lawsuit alleges the following timeline:

• Nov. 8, 2014: There were no pressure sores and her skin was intact, but had reportedly developed bed sores due to serious nursing home neglect.
• March 30, 2016: Lois was checked into the emergency room for rectal bleeding, and was diagnosed with E. coli urinary tract infection and fecal compaction.
• Aug. 6, 2016: Lois complained of pain in her buttocks during physical therapy.
• Feb. 27, 2017: The care facility had to elevate her heel to alleviate for skin protection.
• July 25, 2017: A sacral ulcer appeared on an open area of the buttocks.
• July 26, 2017: An attending physician ordered staff to check on Lois every two hours, due to the severity of her condition.
• July 27, 2017: Medical records noted that a pressure sore had formed.
• Aug. 3, 2017: Her physician prescribed topical treatments, which were supposed to be administered by caregivers.
• Aug. 10, 2017: Lois reportedly suffered extreme pain and her pressure sore had grown significantly in size. Turning and repositioning had been ordered by physician, but was not performed.
• Aug. 15, 2017: Lois had to undergo surgical treatment for her sacral wound.
• Aug. 22, 2017: Lois was admitted to the emergency room for hypothermia and presence of blood in her catheter. She was diagnosed with a severe pressure ulcer, damage to spleen or kidney, and staph infection.

Later in September 2017, Lois was eventually admitted to VITAS Inpatient Hospice Unit of Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, where she later died of her infections. Shirley is filing this pressure sore lawsuit raising multiple claims, including negligence and wrongful death.

This Pressure Sore Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-03000-NGG-ST, in the U.S. District Court of Eastern New York.