MEDIA – A Delaware woman says a number of medical defendants are directly responsible for inflicting chest injuries which led her mother to suffer a fatal aortic aneurysm.
Sandra Brunswick of Wilmington, Del. (acting as Administratrix of the Estate of her deceased mother, Beatrice Gillette) filed suit on Feb. 10 in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, versus Harlee Manor of Springfield, Crozer Medical Center, Crozer Keystone Health System and Crozer Keystone Health Network, all of Upland, and Keystone Quality Transport of Springfield.
Gillette was 90 years old when she was admitted to the Crozer Chester Medical Center emergency department with dehydration and a bladder infection on March 31, 2015. After being discharged on April 2, 2015, Gillette went to Harlee Manor for rehabilitation.
Though reported in good spirits that day, the lawsuit says Gillette claimed to her son, Truitt Gillette, the following day, April 3, 2015, that staff at Harlee Manor were hurting her and it was observed that her legs were not wrapped. Gillette was soon returned to Crozer Medical Center, but it was seen Gillette had a bruise on the right side of her chest.
It is averred the bruise was not present at any time during Gillette’s first stay at Crozer, and that the bruise must have occurred subsequent to her admission to Harlee Manor. This blunt force injury to the chest is said to have caused a dissecting aortic aneurysm which resulted in her death.
“It is believed, and therefore, averred that, either, while at HM, in the ambulance or at Crozer Medical Center, that Ms. Gillette was brutally assaulted,” the lawsuit says, adding Gillette’s injuries were caused by a “fatal traumatic event.”
For counts of violating the Survival Act, Wrongful Death Act, negligence, res ipsa loquitur, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, with compensatory damages, delay damages and costs.
The plaintiff is represented by Joseph Silvestro of Omnis Law Group, in Media.
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas case 17-001486
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com