Nursing homes are staffed with doctors, nurses, and other medical practitioners whose job is to ensure that their patients are safe and healthy. When the nursing home staff fails to maintain the required standard of care, patients may experience severe consequences, including bedsores, infections, and even death.
The Catonsville nursing home bedsore injury attorneys atBrown & Barroncan help you seek justice if you or someone you love suffered from bedsores due to nursing home negligence.
A Catonsville nursing home attorney familiar with Maryland laws can help you determine how best to proceed. No matter how large the company, the team at Brown & Barron will not hesitate to pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
Get in touch with a bedsore injury lawyer serving Catonsville, 410-547-0202 for a free case evaluation.
In a Nursing Home, Bedsores Are a Sign of Neglect
According to theCenters 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 LLC online today to schedule a free case review with a with a bedsore injury lawyer serving Catonsville.
A Catonsville Nursing Home Bedsore Injury Attorney Can Help
When you file a claim against a nursing home for bedsore injuries in Maryland, you will need to provide clear evidence that the nursing home staff’s negligence caused your injuries. A nursing home bedsore injury lawyer from Brown & Barron LLC can help you hold the nursing home responsible for the injuries you or your loved one suffered.
Our skillful nursing home malpractice attorneys will:
- Compile evidence, including medical records, treatment notes, and expert testimony
- File a claim with the State Board of Physicians
- Submit a demand for compensation to the at-fault parties
- File a medical malpractice lawsuit, if necessary
If you lost a loved one due to a nursing home’s failure to diagnose or treat bedsores, you have our genuine sympathy. Our compassionate team ofwrongful death lawyerscan help you seek justice for your lost loved one and financial compensation to ease your burden throughout this heartbreaking ordeal.
Damages You Can Claim in a Maryland Nursing Home Bedsore Case
If you or someone you love has endured pain and suffering because of bedsores, you deserve compensation for the difficulties you experienced. We will assiduously pursue compensation for all the losses you suffered as a result.
Damages you may be able to claim include:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical treatment for bedsores
- Surgery, medication, and assistive devices
- Loss of use
- Reduced mobility
- Reduced quality of life
- Trauma, PTSD, and emotional anguish
- Loss of companionship
Our attorneys understand the anguish that victims feel when their trust in nursing home staff is betrayed. We will not rest until we bring the guilty parties to justice for their negligence.