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Woman sues Wellington Nursing Home after sister's death
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
URBANA — Dorothy Anderson's family wants to see a Champaign County-owned nursing home shut down, not sold.
May Rogan, Anderson's sister, filed a civil lawsuit for injury and wrongful death against the Wellington Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center Friday in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.
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The case comes a year after Anderson's death.
"I hope they pay for the way they treated my sister," Rogan said.
The Champaign County Board of Commissioners, owners of the facility, announced it wanted to sell the Wellington in November 2006 because of increased operating costs and decreased revenue and occupancy rates.
The 15-acre property, which includes 130 beds, has not been advertised for bid yet.
A summons was mailed to the county prosecutor's office, Wellington and county commissioners March 9.
Rich Hoenigman, assistant prosecutor for the Champaign County Prosecutor Office's, said Wednesday the listed parties had not received the complaint and can't speak about the allegations.
Hoenigman did say the case would have to be moved to Champaign County.
Rogan's attorney Blake Dickson, of Cleveland, said he would not go against a change of venue.
Michelle Cunningham, Anderson's niece, said the county should be held accountable.
"We're not just doing this for my aunt but for anybody else who feels their relative hasn't been cared for properly in this nursing home," Cunningham said.
Anderson died from kidney failure and natural causes March 10, 2006 in Heartland of Urbana, a private nursing home. She was placed there eight days earlier by Rogan.
Rogan moved her sister after nurses at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield found bed sores on her buttocks.
Rogan complained to the Ohio Department of Health about Anderson's treatment.
Anderson, who had diabetes, kidney disease and hypertension, was admitted into the Wellington July 2005 and was sent to the hospital nine times for treatment during her stay, according to a complaint summary from the state Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The summary also stated Anderson had a high risk of developing bed sores or pressure ulcers and needed turning and repositioning every two hours.
Anderson would have to sit upright in a chair for up to four hours for dialysis treatment without pressure relief, the summary stated.
Contact this reporter at 328-0353 or lathompson@coxohio.com
