Saint Anthony's, doctors sued over patient's fall

The estate of Lawrence Noascono filed a wrongful death complaint against Saint Anthony's Health Center, Thomas Ryan, M.D. and Salvador Lobianco, M.D. in Madison County Circuit Court May 22, alleging the defendants failed to exercise reasonable care during his treatment.

According to the complaint, Noascono was admitted to Saint Anthony's on May 17, 2006, by Dr. Ryan for his lung cancer treatment.

Noascono's estate claims that on May 23, 2006, he was allowed to fall while going to the bathroom causing him to sustain a head injury and bleed, which ultimately caused his death.

Noascono's estate claims Saint Anthony's failed to prevent him from walking to the bathroom on his own for the reason that he was unstable in his gait, failed to assess his gait and ability to walk, failed to inform him that he needed to be assisted when walking and failed to have protocol requiring him to be assisted to the bathroom.

The estate alleges the doctors failed to order appropriate nursing care to prevent him from walking to the bathroom unassisted, failed to assess his ability to ambulate safely, failed to order proper restrictions and failed to alert the nurses that he was in no condition to walk alone.

The estate claims that Noascono suffered conscious pain and suffering prior to his death.

His estate also claims that Noascono's next-of-kin suffered pecuniary losses including medical and funeral expenses.

Represented by Thomas Falb of Alton, Noascono's estate is seeking damages in excess of $200,000, plus costs of the suit.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Andy Matoesian.

08 L 448