Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Long-Term Hospital Patient Returning to Poland

Barbara Latasiewicz, a Polish immigrant who has lived in a La Grange hospital for 2 1/2 years, will return to Poland under an arrangement approved by a Cook County judge.

She could be flown back to Poland as soon as Tuesday, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Latasiewicz, 60, has been in the United States illegally after overstaying a visa. She ended up at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital in September 2009 after suffering a massive stroke while cleaning a home.

Her caretakers have been unable to find a place for her long-term care. She has no insurance or family that will care for her, and she doesn't qualify for public aid.

The hospital has been taking care of her for more than two years even though it is a short-term care facility. Her care has cost the hospital about $1.3 million, according to the spokeswoman.

But early this month the hospital was able to arrange placement for Latasiewicz in a stroke specialty unit at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, officials said. She has a brother in that city who can visit her.

Despite objections from the Office of State Guardian, which is Latasiewicz's legal guardian, Judge Cheryl Cesario agreed that Latasiewicz should not stay at the La Grange facility.

"This court finds without question that it is absolutely improper for a person to live in a hospital room," the judge said.

Full Article and Source:
Long-Term Patient in La Grange Returning to Poland

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why would the State Guardian object? They're not making money on an illegal; are they?

Jessica said...

There's always something in it for them, Anonomyous. Sometimes, we just can't see it.

Anonymous said...

http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/?section=CASEINFOPage&CASEINFOPage=4210&PLtype=1&Ncase=2010P001466

The link above shows the court docket and some of the events during this case.

Monahan and Cohen is attorney for the State Guardian, who petition for guardianship

THere does not appear to be any accounting of the estate, and there is at least one restricted image.

Why did the judge not realize for the past 2 years the ward was in the hospital? What about the reports on the ward?

This case should be looked at more closely.

Anonymous said...

What's been going on the past two years with the brother in Poland? How long has he been aware of his sisters' needs?

Was the wards' family ever notified of her needs previously? Or was the ward being held hostage while attorneys billed her estate for their services?

It is also difficult to believe the hospital would hold onto this patient so long.

Something is very not right with this story.