Nursing Home Negligence Led to Woman's Death: Lawsuit

A Joliet nursing home is being sued over allegations that they did not follow a doctor’s orders that led to the death of a woman.

The Cook County Record reports that Rosemarie Barry, administrator of the estate of Sylvia Raucci, filed a lawsuit Sept. 21 in Cook County Circuit Court against Fairview Care Center of Joliet, citing violations of the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act.

According to the suit, as reported by the Cook County Record, Raucci was accepted into Fairview in August 2013. Her physician instructed the care center to turn Raucci every two hours and ordered a specific cream to be used on her. Fairview never documented that Raucci was turned or that the cream was used, according to the article. Two open sores were noted by the care center, but no documentation says they were treated.

The complaint states that Raucci was taken to Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center for hypotension and dehydration on Sept. 20, 2013 and was also diagnosed with possible deep vein thrombosis, a stage two pressure sore to her sacrum and a stage four pressure sore to her coccyx. Nine days later, Raucci died.

Barry claims Fairview had a duty to ensure Raucci was properly cared for. She seeks an amount sufficient to satisfy jurisdictional requirements, including all relief authorized by the Nursing Home Care Act and the cost of the suit. Barry demands a jury trial.