A resident at the Golfview Developmental Center in Des Plaines, Illinois died after experiencing an extended seizure in his bathroom. The resident was admitted to the facility with diagnoses that included seizure disorder and mental retardation. Upon first examination, it seems highly likely that the resident suffered a wrongful death at the facility.
He was discovered having the seizure by a Golfview Developmental Center staff member who left the scene to find a nurse. When the staff member returned to the room with a nurse and a supervisor, the resident was still experiencing the seizure. According to the investigation by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), blood and spittle were flowing from the resident’s mouth. According to the report, the nurse stated “I think he is faking. He wants more attention.”
The nurse failed to take the resident’s blood pressure or perform any other evaluations to test this preposterous theory. The Golfview Development Center also failed to administer the resident’s anti-seizure medication as ordered by the man’s physician.
Emergency medical services were not notified for a full 30 minutes after the resident’s condition was first discovered. CPR and other life saving techniques were never attempted. The resident later died in a local hospital.
Sadly, nursing home neglect lawsuits are frequently wrongful death lawsuits. As this incident shows, surviving nursing home neglect can sometimes be impossible. Typically, a surviving family member can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Illinois, but if a victim’s will designates another individual to be in charge of his or her affairs, they may also file a wrongful death lawsuit.
If you have a loved one who has died as a result of negligence in an Illinois nursing home, contact our Chicago nursing home lawyers for a free and confidential evaluation of your case.