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Emory University Hospital complaint alleges Stage 3 and Stage 4 pressure ulcers during 2024 admission

The complaint alleges that nursing and medical staff at Emory University Hospital allowed a bedbound liver-failure patient to develop multiple Stage 3 and Stage 4 pressure ulcers between February and May 2024 by failing to follow pressure-injury prevention protocols. The complaint asserts professional negligence and ordinary negligence against Emory University, Emory Healthcare, and unidentified hospital personnel.

System
Emory Healthcare
Facility
Emory University Hospital
Providers involved
Emory University Hospital / Emory Healthcare, Inc. / Emory University / John/Jane Doe hospital personnel
Pattern
Bedbound liver-failure admission followed by alleged failure to prevent Stage 3 and Stage 4 pressure ulcers
Harm
Stage 3 and Stage 4 pressure ulcers of the sacrum and head

Overview

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that Emory University Hospital staff failed to follow pressure-injury prevention protocols during a 2024 admission, allowing a bedbound patient to develop Stage 3 and Stage 4 pressure ulcers.

Chronology

  1. The complaint alleges that the patient was admitted in preparation for a liver transplant arising from liver failure and end-stage renal disease.
  2. According to the complaint, multi-organ failure on February 11, 2024 left the patient completely immobile and at high risk for pressure injury under a Braden Scale score of 12.
  3. The complaint alleges that the patient was not placed on a specialty alternating-pressure mattress until March 3, 2024 and that the hospital stopped using that mattress on March 6.
  4. The complaint alleges that staff failed to reposition the patient every two hours, failed to keep the head of the bed at or below 30 degrees as ordered, and failed to obtain timely wound-care consultation.
  5. The complaint contends that the sacral wound progressed to Stage 4, that a separate occipital pressure injury developed during intubation, and that both wounds were documented as full-thickness Stage 4 injuries before discharge.

Alleged failures

  • The complaint alleges professional negligence in monitoring, repositioning, documentation, and pressure-injury prevention.
  • The complaint alleges that staff failed to use or maintain appropriate pressure-relief equipment.
  • The complaint alleges delayed wound-care consultation after a suspected hospital-acquired skin injury was documented.
  • The complaint asserts ordinary negligence for alleged hospital-administration failures involving staffing, communication, and policy implementation.

Entities and tags

Emory University HospitalEmory Healthcare, Inc.Emory UniversityJohn/Jane Does 1-10Stage 3 pressure ulcerStage 4 pressure ulcerBraden ScaleAlternating-pressure mattressPressure ulcersFailure to turn and repositionWound-care delayNegligent administrationHospital nursingWound careCritical careHospital administration

Questions this example answers

What does the Emory University Hospital pressure ulcers allege?

The complaint alleges that nursing and medical staff at Emory University Hospital allowed a bedbound liver-failure patient to develop multiple Stage 3 and Stage 4 pressure ulcers between February and May 2024 by failing to follow pressure-injury prevention protocols. The complaint asserts professional negligence and ordinary negligence against Emory University, Emory Healthcare, and unidentified hospital personnel.

Who is identified in this public case example?

This public case example identifies Emory University Hospital, Emory Healthcare, Inc., Emory University, and John/Jane Doe hospital personnel. It also tags the source-supported entities Emory University Hospital, Emory Healthcare, Inc., Emory University, John/Jane Does 1-10, and Stage 3 pressure ulcer.

What alleged failures are summarized here?

The complaint alleges professional negligence in monitoring, repositioning, documentation, and pressure-injury prevention. The complaint alleges that staff failed to use or maintain appropriate pressure-relief equipment. The complaint alleges delayed wound-care consultation after a suspected hospital-acquired skin injury was documented.