A Cook County woman is suing the owners of a nursing and rehabilitation facility, alleging negligence led to a man's cardiopulmonary arrest.
Svetlana Markovic, guardian of the estate and person of disabled Tioslav Markovic, filed a lawsuit Sept. 16 in Cook County Circuit Court against Presence RHC Senior Services, alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, on May 21, 2014, Tioslav Markovic, who had been admitted to Presence St. Benedict Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Niles, earlier that month for subacute therapy and right leg wound vac treatment for a right leg ulcer, complained several times throughout the day of shortness of breath to the nurse taking care of him.
The suit says Markovic had a past medical history that included congestive heart failure and ischemic heart disease, and the nurses taking care of him on said date noted wheezing in his lungs. At approximately 2:50 a.m. May 22, 2014, after calling for assistance, Markovic went into cardiopulmonary arrest while in his room at the center, the complaint states. As a result, the lawsuit states, he has been left in a persistent vegetative state and rendered totally disabled.
The suit alleges the defendant was negligent in failing to monitor his heart condition, failing to transfer him to a hospital for evaluation and treatment of his worsening condition, failing to timely react to his worsening condition, and ignoring his "cries for help" on the above dates, among other negligent acts or omissions that resulted in him going into cardiopulmonary arrest.
Svetlana Markovic seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus attorney fees and court costs. She is represented by attorney Eric D. Jones of Tarpey, Jones & Schroeder in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015L009499.