Decubitus Ulcers/Depression - Andrew Clark

Andrew Clark* was an 88 year old retired attorney who had a history of diabetes and mild to moderate dementia. His wife and daughter cared for him at home until he began to wander from the house. For that reason, Mr. Clark entered a private nursing home for supervision of his diabetes and Alzheimer's-related behavioral problems.

Upon admission, Mr. Clark was a pleasant and cooperative man who was intermittently oriented to his location and the date. He always recognized his family, however, and frequently asked about where they were, even though someone visited daily. Shortly after admission, Mr. Clark appeared to become increasingly depressed. He lost his appetite and had no interest in watching the Red Sox on television, something he usually loved to do. He became irritable and sometimes cried. He rarely left his bed or chair unless forced to do so. The staff told the family that he was having trouble adjusting to the new environment and that he would probably get over it with time. They also told the family that his Alzheimer's Disease was probably worsening, although no one had formally evaluated Mr. Clark's mental status since his arrival at the nursing home.

Mr. Clark eventually began to remain in bed all day and became very withdrawn. When his wife tried to get him up, he refused. One afternoon, he complained of a painful foot. His wife looked at it, and noticed a broken blister on his heel that had a foul odor. When she brought it to the attention of the nursing staff, a nurse told Mrs. Clark that it was a bedsore. She informed the doctor who telephoned in an order to apply an antiseptic cream and a bandage to the sore twice a day, but never examined Mr. Clark's foot. While Mrs. Clark visited during the next several days, no one came to change Mr. Clark's position in the bed, or tried to get him up. By the end of the month, the sore had become very deep, painful, and was oozing greenish fluid. When the nurse requested stronger pain medication for Mr. Clark, the doctor examined the patient's foot and requested a surgical consultation. The surgeon immediately hospitalized Mr. Clark and recommended an above-the-knee amputation because the patient's foot had developed gangrene. The surgeon informed Mrs. Clark that if her husband had received proper treatment when the sore first developed, Mr. Clark probably would not have lost his foot. The hospital staff also recognized that Mr. Clark was very depressed and contacted a psychiatrist who prescribed antidepressants for Mr. Clark, resulting in a marked improvement in his level of energy, ability to eat, and social interaction.

The attorneys at Moquin & Daley have twenty or more years experience representing the injured or killed as a result of improper care in hospitals and nursing homes. While each case is different, and no one can promise the results in any case, we have obtained substantial settlements and judgments in cases such as this, many of them in excess of $1,000,000.00.

* Not his real name.

 

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