Pressure sores not treated, says wrongful death suit against Memorial and nursing home

The administrator of a deceased man's estate has filed suit against the hospital where doctors allegedly failed to treat his pressure sores, causing him to develop an infection and die.

Winifred Love claims William B. McCuller visited defendants Memorial Hospital and Memorial Convalescent Center on April 16, 2009, where he developed pressure ulcers. The ulcers led to an infection, causing McCuller to die, according to the complaint filed July 8 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Staff at the hospital and center negligently failed to properly treat McCuller, failed to properly monitor and observe him, failed to identify a patient at high risk for pressure ulcers and failed to identify early signs of wound occurrence, the suit states. In addition, employees at the centers failed to follow proper wound prevention and treatment protocol and failed to properly instruct their nursing staff, the complaint says.

Because of McCuller's death, his next-of-kin suffered grief and sorrow and have been deprived of his services, companionship, instruction, guidance, counsel, training, love and support, Love claims.

In her two-count suit, Love is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.

Joseph A. Bartholomew of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer and Shevlin in Belleville will be representing her.