An Ohio nursing home is being sued after a resident died of sepsis allegedly caused by neglected, infected pressure ulcers.

Joseph C. Bonnett became a nursing home patient at Arbors at Marietta in Marietta, Ohio on June 16, 2016, after he was transferred from Camden Clark Medical Center in West Virginia.

According to the pressure ulcers lawsuit, Bonnett had a bed sore that measured 7 on the Norton Plus Pressure Ulcer Scale. A 10 or less is considered a high-risk pressure ulcer.

When admitted to Arbors, Bonnett allegedly was diagnosed with a stage two pressure ulcer injury, which indicates the skin has started to break down.

The nursing home lawsuit alleges that on June 18, 2016, staff noticed his skin was an abnormal color and documented a surgical wound and open lesion. From June 19 through 21, staff reportedly noticed a rash on his hip and thighs, in addition to open wounds, but Arbors allegedly failed to treat the open wounds. The facility purportedly also failed to notify anyone to provide wound treatment.

The plaintiff claims the Daily Skilled Nurses Notes documented that nurses treated “wounds to the sacral area” and turned Bonnett on June 22.

A new order was allegedly given to turn Bonnett frequently to prevent pressure ulcers and for his own comfort. According to the lawsuit, this was the first order to assess, document and treat the pressure ulcers at Arbor, which is below the standard of care.

Orders to Relieve Pressure Ulcers Face Delay

On June 24, the pressure ulcer that had been documented as a stage two pressure injury when he was admitted to Arbor on June 17 had allegedly progressed to become an unstageable pressure ulcer on his left buttocks. The plaintiff says an order was placed for Bonnett to receive a special pressure-reducing mattress with the intent of alleviating his pressure ulcers. That order allegedly was not completed until July 1.

Although Bonnett was prescribed Lasix to reduce fluid retention, he was not provided with a Foley catheter, the complaint says. As a result, he allegedly was left sitting in wet urine that further aggravated the pressure ulcers.

He purportedly was not treated for the sacral wound until July 7. At that point, the sacral pressure ulcer allegedly had become unstageable.

Having lost weight, suffering from worsening pressure ulcers, and incontinent with blood in his stools, Bonnett was sent to the hospital on July 7. One pressure ulcer allegedly measured 7 centimeters and was noted to be seeping green drainage and exhibiting a foul odor.

The plaintiff says Bonnett died of infection and sepsis at Marietta Memorial Hospital on July 9, 2016.

The pressure ulcers lawsuit alleges Arbors was negligent and administered substandard care that led to the worsening of Bonnett’s pressure ulcers, which ultimately became infected. Sepsis occurred when the bacterial infection entered his bloodstream, which eventually led to organ failure and death.

The Pressure Ulcers Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-00820-EAS-CMV in the Court of Common Pleas, General Division, Washington County, for the State of Ohio.