LOUISIANA RECORD

GRETNA – A local home healthcare agency is being sued by the husband of a patient claiming a dirty bandage caused an infected wound and subsequent surgery.

Leroy Robin, husband of Mildred Robin, filed suit against Apex Home Health, A Division of Southeast Louisiana Home Health Inc. in the 24th Judicial District Court on Oct. 16.

Robin alleges that his wife Mildred was discharged from West Jefferson Medical Center on Oct. 31, 2012 and put on health care/wound care with Apex Home Health and that at the time of the discharge her wound was X-rayed and showed no signs of an obstruction. The plaintiff asserts that during the wound care nurses were instructed to pack the wound with gauze and to document its condition. Robin claims that on Nov. 26, 2012 his wife began running a fever and her wound was emitting a strong, foul odor and that upon being admitted to the hospital it was found that dirty gauze had been left in her wound.

The plaintiff alleges that his wife had to undergo three surgeries, one to remove a four-by-four inch piece of gauze that had been left in her and two more to remove infected tissue. Robin asserts that after his wife was discharged her wound was much larger due to the surgeries. Apex Home Health is alleged to have declined to provide any further wound service due to lack of experience.

The defendant is accused of failing to render proper care, negligently providing wound care, failing to account for the number of gauze placed in the wound, failing to properly chart, failing to properly monitor the patient’s condition, negligently causing more surgeries to be performed and causing a lapse in recovery.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for loss of consortium.

Robin is represented by Blaine M. Hebert of the Marrero-based Hebert Law Firm LLC.

The case has been assigned to Division K Judge Ellen Shirer Kovach.

Case no. 732-070.