Wood River, Illinois Nursing Home and Daughter of Former Resident Reach Wrongful Death Settlement in Madison County
In Madison County, Illinois, a wrongful death settlement has been reached between Wood River nursing home VIP Manor and the daughter of a woman that died at the home in 2004.
Alinda Rust had filed her wrongful death lawsuit against VIP Manor in Madison County Circuit Court in May 2006. Rust’s lawsuit alleges that her mother. Viola Baehler, died from malnutrition, dehydration, and sepsis four months after being admitted to the home. The suit also says that Baehler suffered physical pain, mental trauma, impairment, and disfigurement, and that she sustained medical expenses for these injuries prior to her death. The nursing home has denied all allegations.
The Illinois wrongful death settlement was reached between the two parties in mediation, which is now a mandatory step in Madison County for all medical malpractice cases, including those involving allegations of nursing home abuse or neglect. The Illinois Supreme Court approved the mandatory mediation rule last year.
If your elderly loved one has died in a nursing home and you suspect that the cause of death was nursing home abuse or neglect, you should speak with an Illinois wrongful death law firm that is experienced in dealing with nursing home abuse and neglect cases.
Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect is an all-too common occurrence. A recent report issued by the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services found that over 90% of US nursing homes violated federal health and safety standards in 2008.
The report also found that 17% of nursing homes had deficiencies that could result in immediate jeopardy or harm to residents. Common problems at nursing homes included medication errors, bedsore infections, malnutrition, nursing home neglect, and nursing abuse.
Out of the 37,150 nursing home complaints that the department received last year, 39% of the complaints were substantiated and 1/5th of the complaints involved nursing home abuse or neglect.
Mandatory mediation rule helps avert wrongful death trial, Madison St. Clair Record, October 9, 2008
Violations Reported at 94% of Nursing Homes, New York Times, September 29, 2008
90 percent of nursing homes in violation, UPI, October 2, 2008
Related Web Resources:
US Department of Health and Human Services
Nursing Home Care Act, Illinois General Assembly
