According to the Coastal Courier, a digital news outlet covering stories in South Carolina, Patricia Edwards was admitted to Coastal Manor, a nursing home, after suffering a fall at home (Edwards had a short stay at a hospital in Savannah before being moved to Coastal Manor). The fall occurred in 2018. Her attending physician, Adewunmi Sobowale, who had been her doctor since 2016, managed her treatment in the aftermath of the fall.
In December 2018, a nurse at Coastal Manor noticed a bedsore on Edwards. The nurse documented the discovery of the bedsore. In January 2019, Sobowale left the country for a month. Doctor Calin G. Badea took over as Edwards’ attending physician while Sobowale was away.
Per the report in the Coastal Courier, Sobowale failed to inform Badea about the bedsore, and left no instructions about how to care for Edwards in his absence. Still, Badea reportedly received weekly updates from the nurses regarding the bedsore, including the fact that it was getting worse. According to the article, neither Sobowale or Badea checked or treated the bedsore throughout Edwards’ stay at Coastal Manor.
In February 2019, Edwards was rushed to the hospital due to complications from the bedsore. She underwent surgery and the surgeon noted that the bedsore had reached stage 4 and had led to an osteomyelitis infection, a fatal diagnosis. Following surgery, Edwards was placed in hospice in March 2019 and died in April 2019.
Following Edwards’ death, her daughter filed a lawsuit alleging negligence regarding the care she received from Badea and Sobowale while she was staying at Coastal Manor nursing home. Last month, Edwards’ daughter and other surviving family members were awarded $4.25 million following an 11-day nursing home abuse trial at Liberty County State Court.
How Can I Tell If My Loved One Has Been the Victim Nursing Home Abuse?
In some cases, the signs of nursing home abuse are obvious. However, in many instances, the evidence of nursing home abuse can go unnoticed. That’s why it’s important to constantly keep an eye out for signs of nursing home abuse, so that nothing slips through the cracks. Here are a few things to look for if you suspect your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse:
- Fall-related injuries
- Signs of withdrawal and depression
- Unnecessary or unexplained medication changes
- Symptoms of malnutrition or dehydration
- Infections, such as bedsores
- Extreme changes in health, like unexplained weight loss
- Odd injuries, including burns, cuts, and bruises
- Unusual financial decisions
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Experienced Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
There’s no excuse for nursing home abuse, and no one should ever get away with it. When our loved ones stay in nursing homes, it’s because they need extra care and protection. Unfortunately, there are instances where staying in a nursing home does more harm than good.
Pierce, Sloan, Kennedy & Early LLC has been protecting the rights of injury victims and their families in Charleston and surrounding communities since 1999. We have seen the tragic outcome of nursing home abuse and how it devastates victims and their families. That is why our experienced nursing home abuse lawyers are dedicated to helping victims and their loved ones bring those who harmed them to justice, including securing the compensation victims and families need for medical care, funeral costs, and pain and suffering.
To set up a free consultation with our experienced nursing home abuse attorneys, call us at (843) 968-0886 or contact us online today.