Nursing Home Settles Death of Resident for Failure to Monitor Blood Sugar

Ann Jones, 63, was admitted to Fairlane Senior Care & Rehab Center for rehabilitation after she suffered a stroke. A care plan was established. The plan included Jones’s medical background as an insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetic who was prone to blood sugar fluctuations.

For approximately two months, she received no blood sugar checks or sliding scale insulin adjustments. Worse yet, for several months, Jones rarely received a nighttime snack, which is essential for diabetics.

A doctor revised Jones’s orders and noted that she had uncontrolled diabetes. Despite this late recognition and treatment, the nursing home’s nursing staff chose not to check Jones’s blood sugar for a number of months.

Jones was later found unresponsive. Her blood sugar had dropped to 47 mg/dL. Jones was transferred to a hospital where she was diagnosed as having respiratory failure and acute encephalopathy, which likely resulted from low blood sugar or hypoglycemia.

Unfortunately, Jones died seven months later following prolonged hospitalizations and nursing home stays. She was survived by her two children.

The Jones estate sued the nursing home alleging that it chose not to properly monitor or care for Jones, including performing timely blood sugar checks, administering appropriate amounts of insulin and offering regular snacks.

Before trial, the parties settled for an undisclosed sum.

The attorney representing the Jones family was Donna MacKenzie.

Duke v. Fairlane Senior Care & Rehab Center, LLC, No. 16-006169-NH (Mich. Cir. Ct. Wayne County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling nursing home abuse cases, wrongful death cases, medical negligence lawsuits, assisted living negligence cases, long-term care lawsuits and nursing home abuse cases for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Highland Park, Northbrook, Wilmette, Evanston, Schiller Park, Elmwood Park, Hinsdale, Aurora, St. Charles, Elburn, Alsip, Blue Island, Palos Park, Barrington, Downers Grove, Oakbrook, Hillside, Franklin Park, Crete, Matteson, Worth, Bloomingdale, Lake Zurich, Lisle, Naperville, Romeoville, Homer Glen, Orland Hills, Tinley Park, Country Club Hills, Hazel Crest, Dixmoor, South Holland, Chicago Heights, University Park, Chicago (Marquette Park, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Wrigleyville, Douglas, Armour Square, Bridgeport, Canaryville, Little Italy, West Loop, West Town, Ukrainian Village, Wicker Park, Roscoe Village, Albany Park, Ravenswood Manor, Lincoln Square, Hollywood Park, Pulaski Park, Edgebrook, Old Edgebrook, Little India, Dolans Edition, Edgewater Beach, Buena Park, Horner Park, Irving Park East, Sheffield Neighbors, Park West, Clybourn Corridor, Near West Side, Homan Square, Garfield Park, Little Village, McKinley Park), Cicero, Berwyn, North Riverside, Maywood, Forest Park, Park Forest, Berkeley and Addison, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.