December 1, 2010 – Chicago, IL – A young boy’s mother has recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit against an Illinois nursing home for the preventable death of her son. According to an October article from the Chicago Tribune, it is a common misconception that nursing homes are only for the elderly; a great many nursing homes serve other types of patients, such as children with developmental disabilities. The article details the paper’s investigations into one such home, Alden Village North, which has been named in several nursing home abuse cases involving young children. Most recently, 12-year-old Derrick Black died at Alden after he was unmonitored when his night nurse left early and his day nurse arrived late. A number of other things went wrong during this time. On the day of Derrick’s death, he was receiving meals through a feeding tube. Though it was specified by medical orders that he be seated upright during such feedings, Derrick’s bed was lying flat. It was also reported that a nurse’s aide disconnected and reconnected the feeding tube to dress Derrick, despite orders that required only a fully qualified nurse to perform such a procedure. The aide then moved Derrick to a wheelchair, whereupon the boy immediately began to cough fluids from his mouth and breathing tube. The night nurse departed at 7:15 a.m. and the day nurse did not arrive until 7:29 a.m., during which time Derrick was without care. At 7:30 a.m. he was found, by a different nurse, non-responsive and with a large amount of secretions on his chest. He could not be revived. The night nurse told investigators that she suctioned the fluids before leaving early. Alden has already been fined $25,000 by the state for nursing home neglect. Stephanie Black, Derrick’s mother, filed the wrongful death lawsuit against Alden in August.
Contacting a New York Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
When you have sustained a serious injury or lost a loved one because of the negligence of a nursing home you are entitled to seek compensation for your damages and suffering. Consulting with a New York nursing home abuse lawyer can help you better understand your rights, determine liability for your injuries, and decide if filing a nursing home abuse claim is right for you. At Gacovino Lake & Associates we have formed a dedicated network of nursing home abuse lawyers that serve clients nationwide. Our New York office serves residents of the 5 boroughs with their auto accident, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, defective drug, premises liability, and Workers’ Compensation claims. For experienced help with your medical malpractice claim, contact us today – 1-800-246-4878.
