Nursing home and Belleville doctor named in wrongful death suit

A Belleville nursing home and physician are being sued by the estate of a woman who suffered a massive heart attack and died two years ago.

Lillie Brown, executor of the estate of Jacquelyn Pickett, claims Calvin Johnson Care Center and Basga Bernard, M.D. failed to properly evaluate and treat Pickett's cardiac condition on a continual basis while she was a nursing home resident.

According to the complaint filed Sept. 12 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, Pickett suffered a massive myocardial infarction on Sept. 18, 2004. She died Sept. 23, 2004.

The complaint seeks damages against Calvin Johnson Care Center for violation of the Nursing Home Act, wrongful death and survival action. Among other allegations, the suit claims Calvin Johnson Care Center failed to provide adequate nursing services from enough qualified nursing personnel to meet the total nursing needs of residents.

It also claims that staff failed to notify Bernard of a significant change in Pickett's condition

"Jacquelyn Pickett suffered repeated pain and suffering up to the time of her death on September 23, 2004, and as a result of the death, the decedent's heirs lost decedent's support, love, society, companionship and other pecuniary loss," the complaint states.

Brown is represented by Alan G. Pirtle of The Rex Carr Law Firm in East St. Louis.

The suit alleges Bernard deviated from the standard of care of a physician by failing to order appropriate diagnostic tests and failing to appropriately assess and diagnose an impending heart attack, among other allegations.

Bernard is being sued for wrongful death and survival action.

Brown is seeking at least $250,000 in damages from the defendants.