Woman says she found maggots in mother's wound while at nursing home

PITTSBURGH - A Westmoreland County woman recently sued a skilled nursing facility on behalf of her deceased parent for damages allegedly caused by negligent care.

Sarah J. Carroll Wood of Trafford, as administratrix of the estate of Frances C. Carroll filed a complaint Aug. 27 against GGNSC Murrysville, doing business as Golden Living—Murrysville in the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County.

The defendant removed the case to U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on March 25.

According to the filing, Frances Carroll resided at the Murrysville facility starting in 2010. The suit states that in 2012, when Carroll was approximately 95 years old, she was being treated for basal cell carcinoma on her scalp.

The complaint alleges that her scalp lesion went uncovered for periods of time. According to the complaint, on or about Aug. 31, 2012, blood was found on her clothing. The plaintiff asserts that while visiting her mother on or about Sept. 1, she discovered live maggots in her mother’s wound.

After notifying staff, Carroll was attended by staff and a treatment plan was enacted stipulating regular cleansing and dressing, including antibiotic application and bandaging, the complaint says.

Wood claims Carroll’s lesion continued to deteriorate and that she was subsequently evaluated and transferred to another facility for hospice care.

According to the grievance, the wound healed while Carroll was under the care of the second facility, where she remained until her death on Feb. 5, 2013. Cause of death was listed as heart failure and basal cell carcinoma.

Wood charges Golden Living with negligence, claiming the facility failed to keep her mother safe from physical harm, provide a safe environment and adequate staff, and manage her mother’s care to prevent infection and infestation.

Arguing that her mother endured pain, suffering, and loss of dignity, the plaintiff seeks compensatory damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, and court costs. She is represented by Elizabeth Chiapetta and Robert Daley of Robert Peirce & Associates in Pittsburgh.

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania case number 2:15-cv-00416