Disabled woman blames Heartland Healthcare for leaving her wheelchair unlocked and unattended

Heartland Healthcare of Collinsville, a healthcare service provider, did not properly care for a disabled woman after her doctor appointment, a lawsuit claims.

Ana Chatham filed the complaint on July 12 in Madison County Circuit Court against Granite City Clinic Corp., which operates Heartland Healthcare of Collinsville.

According to the complaint, Chatham had a pre-existing paralysis and disability and as a result was confined to a wheelchair. She often relied upon public transportation by the Agency for Community Transit (ACT) to make her appointments.

She claims that an employee of the medical center left her unattended in a wheelchair after an appointment. The employee also did not lock Chatham’s wheelchair, the complaint states. As a result, Chatham claims she rolled down the sidewalk in her wheelchair, over a curb and into the parking lot, tossing her to the pavement. She fractured her leg and required surgery, the complaint states.

Chatham requests a jury trial and seeks more than $50,000 in damages. She is represented by Lanny Darr of Darr Law Offices in Alton.

This article was first published by Madison St. Clair Record.

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