CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A new lawsuit has been filed against Westmoreland Place, also known as Westmoreland at CareCore, a local nursing facility. The plaintiffs allege that the facility failed to provide adequate medical care for their loved one, William Allen, ultimately leading to his death.
Allen was a short-term resident at the facility following a fall at his home in December 2022. The lawsuit alleges that from December 6, 2022, to April 18, 2023, Allen received “inadequate nutrition and hydration,” leading to severe weight loss. It also claims that the facility failed to provide “appropriate oral hygiene” and that Allen had multiple falls while in their care.
The plaintiffs further allege that the staff at the facility “did not employ sterile techniques,” resulting in a urinary tract contamination that caused a severe MRSA infection and sepsis. MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a type of bacteria that is resistant to several antibiotics. Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body’s response to an infection.
On April 18, 2023, Allen began to “vomit uncontrollably” and was subsequently transported to the hospital. There, he was diagnosed with sepsis, emphysematous cholecystitis (a gallbladder infection), a liver abscess, acute metabolic encephalopathy superimposed on dementia, and soft tissue anasarca (generalized swelling of the body).
After 12 days of hospitalization, Allen’s condition reportedly worsened, and he passed away on May 14, 2023.
The plaintiffs are accusing the facility of “negligence, recklessness, and wrongful death,” and are seeking a judgment in excess of $25,000. They have also requested a trial by jury.
The facility has yet to respond to the lawsuit. This legal action is the latest in a series of similar lawsuits filed against the facility over the past three years.