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Professional Negligence Law Reporter

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Failure to Reposition Patient, Prevent Bed Sore

September/October 2019

Reed v. Jackson Hosp. & Clinic, Inc., No. CV-15-901730 (Ala. Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty. June 14, 2019).

Alice Mae Reed, 72, suffered from significant health problems, including diabetes and vascular disease. After developing a blood clot, she was admitted to Jackson Hospital. For five days, she remained bedridden. She then developed sepsis and was moved to the facility’s critical care unit. There, she was diagnosed as having a stage 4 pressure sore on her sacrum, necessitating three debridements and later, hospice care. 

Reed died approximately three months after her admission. She is survived by her 12 adult children.

Reed’s son, on behalf of her estate, sued the hospital, alleging failure to turn and reposition Reed during the first five days of her admission and failure to prevent her pressure sore. The plaintiff also alleged that the medical chart contained false entries.

The jury awarded $5 million.

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members D. Brett Turnbull and Andrew J. Moak, both of Birmingham, Ala.
Plaintiff experts: Donna Brown, nursing, Atlanta; and Rodney Snow, infectious disease, Birmingham.
Defense experts: Irish Patrick-Williams, nursing, Jackson, Miss.; and David Thomas, wounds, Austin, Texas.