Nursing home resident suffered narcotic overdose, suit claims

Rosewood Care Center of Edwardsville is being sued for allegedly putting a narcotic patch on a resident before removing another resulting in an overdose and aspiration pneumonia.

The estate of Kathleen F. Adams claims the nursing home's alleged negligence led to the "marked deterioration of her prior physical condition and she thereafter died of those injuries on June 7, 2006."

According to the complaint filed March 13 in Madison County Circuit Court, Adams was admitted to Anderson Hospital in Maryville on June 3, 2006.

"That a Duragesic patch was placed upon Kathleen F. Adams by defendant's agents, servants or employees while Ms. Adams was a resident of defendant's long-term care facility, without removing another Duragesic patch which had previously been placed upon Ms. Adams by the staff of Anderson Hospital prior to her discharge from that hospital, resulting in narcotic overdose and aspiration pneumonia," the complaint states.

Diana Obernuefemann is the executor of Adams' estate. She is represented by Robert H. Gregory of East Alton.