Personal Injury Law Blog

A 90-year-old nursing home resident is once again in the hospital for treatment of ongiong ear infections caused by an infestation of maggots allegedly acquired while living in a local nursing home.

Catherine McCann, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, lived at Lutheran Home for the Aged in Arlington Heights for two years before having 57 maggots removed from her left ear in September. She has been treated multiple times since then for MRSA infections.

McCann’s family is suing the nursing home for $50,000 for negligence and emotional distress. Their attorney said that $50,000 is the extent of the punitive damages sought, but the total amount has not yet been determined because her medical expenses continue to accumulate.

McCann’s stay at Lutheran Home for the Aged cost her husband roughly $10,000 per month.

According to a CBS Chicago report, McCann’s physician prescribed ear drops to be administered four times each day by nursing home staff. The infestation was allegedly discovered shortly thereafter when McCann was observed tugging on her ear and family members and nurses observed maggots crawling out of her ear. The McCann family’s attorney said that because nursing home staff did not sooner notice the infestation, that may indicate they were not administering the ear drops as prescribed.

Lutheran Home management have denied any wrongdoing.

McCann’s attorney said that a settlement did not appear likely and that he would attempt to move the case to trial quickly because of her advanced age.

Paul Greenberg is a Chicago nursing home abuse attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit https://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.