Edwardsville nursing home sued over resident's care

The daughter of a recently deceased woman has filed suit against the Edwardsville nursing home that she claims failed to take proper care of her mother.

Sylvia Mayes claims her mother, Lydia C. Srnek, developed a urinary tract infection while living in defendant Edwardsville Health Care Center Investors's nursing home. The infection was allowed to linger without treatment and developed into a significant medical problem, according to the complaint filed Dec. 28 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Finally, on March 12, 2010, Srnek was taken to Anderson Hospital after she began exhibiting signs of shortness of breath, an altered mental status, severe sepsis, a urinary tract infection, metabolic acidosis, acute kidney failure, significant dehydration and severe malnutrition, the suit states.

Because her urinary tract infection remained untreated for an extended period of time, Srnek developed a blood infection, which caused her great pain and suffering, the complaint says.

Srnek's condition continued to progressively deteriorate until her death on March 21, 2010, the complaint says.

Because of her mother's death, Mayes claims she incurred medical and funeral expenses and lost her mother's love, companionship, society, affection, guidance and comfort.

Mayes blames employees at Edwardsville Health Care Center Investors for contributing to her mother's death, saying they failed to observe that she was suffering from a urinary tract infection, failed to notify Mayes of changes in her mother's condition and failed to provide her with adequate hydration and nutrition, among other negligent acts.

In her two-count complaint, Mayes is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs and attorneys' fees.

Lawrence J. Hess of The Rex Carr Law Firm in East St. Louis will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-1438.