Wrongful death suit filed against nursing home

GRETNA – The family of a deceased nursing home resident is suing the facility for wrongful death.

Sharon Reisch McNeely, Darlene Reisch Thompson and Sheila Reisch, individually and on behalf of their deceased mother Elizabeth Simpson, filed suit against St. Anthony Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, St. Anthony’s Nursing Home Inc. and Dr. William Lacorte in the 24th Judicial District Court on Jan. 7.

The Reisch family claims their mother was a resident at St. Anthony’s Nursing Home beginning in 2009 and in February 2012 she fell while walking and fractured her hip. The plaintiffs claim their mother was left for several hours on the floor after she fell and called for help until she was discovered by a maintenance man. In April 2012, about six weeks after the Simpson underwent surgery to repair her broken hip, McNeely was summoned to the nursing home and alleges her mother was sweating profusely and had refused to eat or drink anything.

The plaintiffs assert an ambulance was immediately called at the demand of McNeely and that a nursing assistant cleaned the deceased’s hair and fingernails, which had allegedly not been done for quite some time.

After arriving at the hospital, the plaintiffs allege their mother was so dehydrated that her blood could not be drawn and that she had to have an IV drip immediately inserted. She was later released to the care of different nursing home where she died about two months later.

The defendant is accused of failing to provide the proper level of nursing care, failing to provide consistent observation and documentation, failing to observe and care for the patient under the circumstances, failing to provide adequately trained staff and qualified nurses, failing to properly provide nutrition and hydration, failing to the family of the changes in the deceased’s condition and violating state nursing home regulations.

Damages in excess are sought for wrongful death, tort negligence, survival action and medical malpractice.

The plaintiffs are represented by Chalmette-based attorney Daniel W. Nodurft.

The case has been assigned to Division C Judge June Berry Darensburg.

Case no. 722-678