When you decided to put your loved one in a nursing home, it was likely the hardest decision you ever made. As a parent they cared for you, and it was hard to admit that in their time of need you could not give them the care they needed. But you trusted the facility where they were going had the staff, expertise, and equipment to give the care that you simply couldn’t provide.
When your loved one died, you may have learned that your trust was misplaced and the quality of care was far below the standards they promised.
What Is “Wrongful Death”?
Wrongful death is when a person’s death is due to the negligence or deliberate misconduct of another person or persons. If your loved one went into the facility with an illness and remained relatively stable, but inevitably died as a result of their initial condition, that is not likely a case of wrongful death.
However, if your loved one went in with a minor or controlled health condition, and received inadequate care for their condition or their person or experienced numerous additional illnesses, you may have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit.
Wrongful Death by Nursing Home Neglect
A nursing home agreed to give your loved one appropriate, full-time care. Often, though, nursing homes may be understaffed, or have a staff with inadequate training to handle the patients they take in. Common types of nursing home neglect that may lead to death include:
- Malnutrition or dehydration
- Pressure sores
- Falls
- Failure to give medication
- Giving too much medication
These types of neglect are often the result of the staff just being stretched too thin. Nursing homes are often run for profit, so they tend to hire as little staff as possible. They also tend to hire fewer licensed nurses, nutritionists, and other support staff that can serve as qualified authorities at the nursing home.
Wrongful Death by Nursing Home Abuse
Sometimes your loved one may have been abused in the nursing home. They may have suffered physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Signs of death as a result of abuse include:
- Bruises or broken bones
- Sexual trauma
- Sudden onset depression
- Physical restraints
Abuse can be at the hands of staff or other patients at the nursing home. In all cases, it is the fault of the nursing home that doesn’t properly screen its staff or monitor its patients.
If you suspect that your loved one died as a result of the negligence of the nursing home, you may be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf.
Please contact us to consult with an experienced wrongful death lawyer about your legal rights and options.
