BELLEVILLE — A long-term care facility and its employee are being sued by the estate of a former patient who suffered a wound infection, dehydration and other medical issues.
Arthur McLorn Jr., as independent administrator of the Estate of Viola McLorn, filed a complaint July 8 in St. Clair Circuit Court against Helia Southbelt Healthcare LLC, Bridgemark Healthcare LLC and Tia Berry, LPN, alleging wrongful death.
According to the complaint, Viola McLorn, who suffered from dementia, was a resident at Helia Sunbelt Healthcare in Belleville from May 23, 2018 through June 24, 2018 and from June 20, 2018 through July 15, 2018. The plaintiff alleges Viola McLorn was "a high risk for skin breakdown" and developed a wound on her "coccyx" on June 1, 2018. She began to bleed from a hip incision site on June 4. Then on June 21, her lab work showed she was suffering from dehydration.
McLorn was admitted to Memorial Hospital on June 24 to be treated for a UTI, sepsis, renal insufficiency and for the hip wound infection. She also required surgery for a "stage II coccyx ulcer," according to the suit. She then returned to Helia as a hospice patient and died on July 15, 2018.
The plaintiff claims the negligent care Viola McLorn received from Helia resulted in her pain, suffering and wrongful death.
The plaintiff seeks monetary compensation and all other just relief. McLorn is represented by Eva Golabek of Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz in Chicago.
St. Clair Circuit Court case number 20-L-522