Catonsville Nursing Home Bedsore Injury Attorney

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, are wounds that form due to constant pressure on one area of the skin. They often occur on parts of the body where the bone is near the surface, such as the elbow, skull, shoulder, heel, or hip.

Bedsores form when a patient’s soft tissue is compressed against a hard surface for a long period of time. The extended pressure reduces blood flow to the affected soft tissue, which results in redness, blisters, tissue death, and eventually deep sores that can expose deeper tissue, muscle, and bone.

Bedsores Are Preventable

Bedsores occur in more than 11% of all nursing home residents, which means that more than 1 out of every 10 residents in nursing homes are suffering from pressure ulcers that are entirely preventable.

Bedsores tend to occur in patients who spend extended periods of time in a bed or chair. According to the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) § 10.07.02.61, the nursing home is responsible for conducting regular assessments of each patient’s skin, hair, and nails to prevent adverse or abnormal conditions.

In addition, patients, especially those with mobility issues, must receive regular care and assistance to prevent bedsores. This includes helping the patient change position, ensuring that the patient is dry and clean, and immediately providing treatment for skin abnormalities.

When the attending physician and nursing home staff fail to prevent or treat bedsores, they are violating their duty of care and can be held liable for the resulting injuries.

The Dangerous Effects of Untreated Bedsore Injuries

Bedsores are more than just a skin condition; they can cause significant pain and long-term harm to the patient. Bedsores have four distinct stages:

• Stage 1: Reddened skin that does not resolve when pressure on the skin is reduced
• Stage 2: Reduced skin or soft tissue thickness, which can look like a blister, hole, or scrape
• Stage 3: Loss of skin, leaving an open wound that exposes the surrounding tissue
• Stage 4: Loss of tissue adjacent to the wound, revealing bone or muscle

Untreated bedsores are extremely painful to the patient and can cause tissue necrosis, infection, sepsis, and even death.

If you or a loved one have suffered from bedsores due to a nursing home’s neglectful practices, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses.

Seeking Justice for Bedsores Due To Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

According to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-2A, you can seek arbitration for medical malpractice against a healthcare provider who was derelict in their duty of care. You may also choose to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the at-fault parties.

Whether you opt for arbitration or file a medical malpractice lawsuit, you will need to prove that:

• The nursing home staff had a professional relationship with the patient who suffered from bedsores
• Through their patient-caretaker relationship, the nursing home staff had a duty of care to ensure the patient’s health and well-being
• The nursing home staff violated their duty of care, either through neglect or negligent actions
• The nursing home staff’s failure to adhere to industry standards of care directly caused the patient to suffer bed sores

Contact Brown & Barron To Discuss Your Nursing Home Neglect Claim

The legal team at Brown & Barron is committed to helping victims of medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, and neglect. We strongly believe that nursing home staff should be held accountable for injuries they cause through neglectful and inattentive practices. We will also pursue the nursing home and other entities that are responsible for staffing, supervision, and nursing home policies.

Contact Brown & Barron online today to schedule a free case review with a with a bedsore injury lawyer serving Catonsville.