A medical malpractice lawsuit was recently filed against an Aliquippa rehabilitation center. The plaintiff in the suit is the son of a now deceased former resident. The man's father died in March 2011, allegedly due to negligent care. In addition to the rehabilitation center, the lawsuit also named an occupational therapist as a defendant.

According to the lawsuit, for several weeks in the summer of 2010, the man underwent treatment for a condition known as hand contractures. The limited mobility of his fingers was reportedly due to the man having diabetes. He had nerve damage, issues with sensation in his hands and poor circulation. The therapy used to treat the condition was heat. Apparently something went wrong with the treatment as the man received second and third-degree burns.

A couple days after his last treatment, the man went to the emergency room complaining of having sustained burns on his hands. That hospital sent the man to Penn Allegheny Hospital's burn center located in Pittsburgh. It was there that he was determined to have sustained severe burns. In addition, he was diagnosed with gangrene.

The lawsuit which was filed on behalf of the deceased man alleges the care the man received was not up to a standard that is acceptable. As a result of the treatments, the man was unable to use his hands and endured a lot of pain in the last eight months of his life.

In addition to compensatory damages, he is also seeking medical expenses. We will provide updates on the case as they become available.

Source: Beaver County Times, "Rochester man sues Aliquippa rehab center alleging negligent care," Jenny Wagner, Feb. 25, 2012