VIP Nursing Home named in wrongful death complaint

The estate of Rachel Reedy filed a wrongful death suit against VIP Manor Nursing Home in Wood River in Madison County Circuit Court Jan. 25.

The estate, represented by Martha Blazier, claims Reedy was admitted to Alton Memorial Hospital on Feb. 13, 2006, with decubitus ulcers and gangrene of the left foot.

Blazier claims Reedy was a resident of VIP Manor when the injuries occurred.

She claims VIP owed a duty to Reedy to exercise ordinary care so as not to cause her injury but breached that duty when it failed to properly notify and consult with Reedy's doctor regarding a significant deterioration in her physical, mental and psychosocial status.

Blazier also claims VIP failed to notify Reedy's next of kin regarding her condition, failed to care for Reedy in a manner which maintained and enhanced her dignity and quality of life, failed to employ sufficient staff to provide adequate personal care, nursing care and supervision to its residents and failed to timely report the abuse and neglect of Reedy to the Department of Public Health.

Blazier further claims VIP failed to provide the necessary care and services to Reedy to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental and psychological well-being, violated its own resident care policies by failing to provide necessary care and services and failed to implement a regular program to prevent and treat Reedy's pressure sores by providing treatment and services to promote healing and prevent infection.

According to Blazier, Reedy died of her injuries on Feb. 18, 2006, and claims her estate became liable for large sums of money for nursing care and attention, physician, hospital and other bills in and about endeavoring to become healed and cured of her injuries.

She also claims Reedy suffered great pain and anguish as a result of her injuries.

Represented by Robert Gregory of East Alton, Blazier is seeking damages on behalf of Reedy's estate in excess of $100,000 and costs of the suit.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge David Hylla.

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