Spanish 
The choice to put an elderly loved on in a nursing home is a difficult one. It often means you will see them less, you may worry that they are unhappy with their new home and there is always the fear that they won’t receive the care they need.
Elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes is a real problem that affects two million people each year. And as frightening as that figure sounds, the real number is no doubt much higher because few cases are formally reported.
Mistreatment in nursing homes can lead to serious medical issues. If you suspect your loved one is being neglected or abused, do not hesitate to seek legal representation. An experienced attorney will investigate the situation and do everything in their power to hold the negligent party responsible.
Nursing home abuse and neglect is medical malpractice
You trust medical professionals to skillfully perform their duties. When substandard care and negligence leads to injury it becomes medical malpractice. Medical malpractice is a very serious issue because it can cause irreversible damage to those under the professionals’ care, their family and even other patients.
Negligent or physically abusive nursing home staff can directly and indirectly cause a litany of medical conditions for residents, some of the most common include:
- Dehydration
- Malnourishment
- Bedsores
- Injuries from falls
- Injuries resulting from not being monitored
Nursing homes are also typically understaffed. Exhausted or rushed staff may also inadvertently commit medical malpractice in the form of:
- Misdiagnosis
- Failure to notice new conditions
- Failure to inform patients of risks associated with medications
- Improper sanitation
Intentional or not, these are major issues that can cause illness, make existing conditions worse or even be responsible for a wrongful death.
Dont be afraid to hold them accountable
Nursing homes are responsible for the care of their residents. When they negligently fail to perform their duties and it results in harm, they are violating their legal duty to provide care. When that happens, you and your loved one have the opportunity to recover damages from the institution; these damages can be for:
- Medical fees
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of consortium, or being deprived to having a familial relationship
- Loss of future earning potential
This is by no means a comprehensive list, it is simply some of the most common damages those wronged by nursing home neglect recover.
You and your loved one trust that they will receive quality care at their nursing home. When their nursing home fails to deliver it can lead to terrible outcomes. That is something no family should have to suffer – hold the institution accountable. Contact an expert medical malpractice lawyer in South Carolina.
