Illinois Nursing Home Negligence Alleged in Wrongful Death of Resident Who Was Given Drug that Caused Her Skin to Peel Off
A woman is suing 17 defendants for the Illinois wrongful death of a Cahokia nursing home patient. According to Rosetta Helms, nursing home patient Earlene Taylor died after suffering from an allergic reaction to a drug she took that caused more than half of her skin to peel off. Since 1996, Taylor had been a resident at River Bluffs Health Care and Rehabilitation Center of Cahokia and the facility’s successor, Atrium Health Care and Rehabilitation Center of Cahokia.
Helms is accusing the two nursing homes of Illinois nursing negligence. She contends that nursing home workers should have known that Taylor had certain allergies, including an allergy to Sulfonamide. Taylor was given Bactrim, which contains Sulfonamide, from November 16 – 20, 2007. The nursing home resident had just returned from a stay at Kenneth Hall Hospital, which is also a one of the lawsuit defendants. Doctors at the hospital are the ones who prescribed Bactrim for the nursing home resident.
Helms’ Illinois wrongful death lawsuit says that the negligent actions and omissions caused Taylor’s allergic reaction. Large open areas showed up on her body, and parts of her skin blistered, sloughed off, or “tented.” She also sustained lesions and experienced whole body erythema. As a result of Taylor’s condition, Helms contends that the nursing home resident experienced serious pain and suffering. Taylor died on November 24, 2007.
The other defendants of the Illinois wrongful death lawsuit are Kenneth Hall Medical Group, Omnicare, Medicate Pharmacy, Southern Illinois Regional Wellness Center, Dr. Benedicta Umora, Home Pharmacy Services, LPN Ruth Luchett, Southern Illinois Health Care Access, Touchette Regional Hospital, RN Lanorris Yates, LPN Natasha Turner, LPN Kimberly Fowler, LPN Susan Brown, and LPN Jennifer Simpson.
Helms is seeking over $1.9 million for Taylor’s wrongful death.
Drug caused woman's skin to peel off, suit seeks $1.9 million, The Record, November 17, 2009
Medical Malpractice, Nolo
Related Web Resources:
Bactrim, Drugs.com
Nursing homes can be held liable for Illinois wrongful death if their actions or neglect contributed to a patient’s injuries or death. An experienced Chicago nursing home negligence lawyer can determine whether you have grounds for a lawsuit. Nursing home abuse, failure to diagnose, neglecting a patient’s hygiene, failure to give a patient his or her medication, failure to clean a patient’s wounds, and failure to provide a patient with the proper medical care are some reasons why a nursing home resident may have a case.
