NEW ORLEANS— A family is suing a New Orleans health care center for negligence in the care of their mother, a resident of the center.
Sheila Butler, Susan Allen, Lawrence Stovall, Bryan Stovall and Fred Stovall, on behalf of Mary Stovall, filed suit against Crescent City Health Care Center Inc., William S. Lacorte M.D., and Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Company in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on July 22.
The defendant is accused of negligence in the course of paid care for Mary Stovall, who was suffering from dementia and difficulty communicating and walking and was admitted to Crescent City Health Care Center, where she was treated by Dr. William Lacorte.
The suit outlines how in the course of her treatment at Crescent City Mary Stovall’s condition deteriorated significantly. She suffered from complications including falls, development of pressure sores, ulcers, pneumonia, esophagitis, malnutrition and dehydration. She eventually required a feeding tube, but according to the plaintiffs, Crescent City and her doctor failed to provide a proper bed despite her need to remain elevated after nutritional intake to prevent respiration. Stovall’s daughter brought a suitcase from home to place under her mother’s pillow to ensure that she was elevated after meals. She required hospitalization on numerous occasions, at least 10 times between August 2008 and July 2009, eventually passing away on August 4, 2009, the lawsuit claims.
The plaintiffs claim that the defendants failed to properly monitor the patient’s condition, failed to provide appropriate therapies, monitor her to prevent falls, perform appropriate wound care, monitor her nutritional and hydration status, diagnose and treat her, to carry out physician’s order to provide proper bedding and services. They allegedly failed to inform the patient and family about her condition, failed to properly chart and record her treatment and condition, and failed to develop and carry out the proper care plan.
An undisclosed amount is sought for Mary Stovall’s injuries, physical and mental pain, and incurred medical expenses.
The plaintiff is represented by Amanda C. Graeber of Cater & Associates LLC.
The case has been assigned to Division M Judge Paulette R. Irons.
Case no. 2013-06847.