Manor Care sued over pressure wounds

CHARLESTON - Manor Care Inc. is dealing with another lawsuit after the personal representative of the estate of a woman who died at Heartland of Charleston filed a complaint against it.

Margaret Mosley, representing Queen Sharp's estate, filed the suit Oct. 19 in Kanawha Circuit Court. She is Sharp's great-niece.

The complaint says Sharp was admitted Oct. 20, 2004, for nursing care assistance and that she was at high risk for the development of pressure wounds.

"During her residency at Heartland of Charleston, Ms. Sharp suffered from pressure wounds," it adds. "Ms. Sharp was dependant on staff for bed mobility and was incontinent of bowel and bladder, which in part caused her to be at high risk for the development of pressure wounds."

Mosley claims the staff there did not do enough to treat the wounds, which contributed substantially to Sharp's death.

The staff's negligence also caused Sharp pain and suffering, the complaint adds.

"Further, Heartland of Charleston failed to adequately turn and reposition Ms. Queen and failed to appropriately inspect Ms. Queen's skin," the suit says.

The defendants are charged with negligence, and Mosley makes a claim for punitive damages. She is represented by Harry Bell of Bell and Bands in Charleston.

In July, Leah Seabolt filed suit against Manor Care alleging that the shoddy care Betty Wolfe received at Heartland of Charleston was a contributor to her death. She claims Wolfe suffered dehydration, pressure wounds and urinary tract infections.

Judge Paul Zakaib has been assigned the case.