A family from Arlington Heights, Illinois is suing the nursing home where their 92-year-old grandmother, Catherine McCann, is a resident, after discovering that 57 maggots were infesting her left ear. McCann suffers from severe Alzheimer’s, and cannot speak or care for herself. Her 88-year-old husband was “horrified and shocked” to learn of her condition, stating: “I’m paying all this money for that kind of care – no way.”
McCann’s family have filed a case against the facility, citing nursing home neglect and emotional distress. According to the family’s attorney, a fly landed in the woman’s ear canal and laid eggs. Before surgery, McCann’s doctors videotaped the infestation to document it. Some of the maggots were sent to an expert for analysis, and it was determined that they had been in her ear for a total of 2 and a half to 3 days.
Because she couldn’t speak, the woman’s only way to communicate the problem was by tugging at her ear. A previous surgery performed decades ago gave McCann an enlarged ear canal, which required periodic flushing to prevent infections. A week before the maggots were found in her ear, McCann was treated by a doctor for wax buildup, and he prescribed ear drops that were to be administered four times a day. Although the nursing home confirmed giving her the drops – with the last dose occurring the evening before the maggots were discovered – investigators doubt whether or not McCann actually received any medication, since it seems impossible they could have missed the infestation while applying the ear drops.
If you suspect your loved one may be a victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, please contact Harvey L. Walner & Associates, Ltd. today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced Chicago nursing home abuse attorney.
