Did A Family Member Get Bedsores In A Chicagoland Nursing Home?
Bedsores are one of the most common signs of nursing home abuse or hospital malpractice. These ulcers develop when a patient’s caregiver fails to reposition them in their bed regularly, which allows constant pressure to damage their skin, muscles and even bones. Elderly patients are, regrettably, more vulnerable to developing severe or even fatal bedsores.
Nursing homes have a duty of care for their patients, which means they must always be vigilant to prevent bedsores, especially for older adults who cannot move easily on their own. When a nursing home does not provide the right equipment, staffing or consideration to prevent bedsores, our experienced lawyers at Kent M. Lucaccioni, Ltd., can assess your family member’s situation, help you determine fault and prove liability for a nursing home malpractice case.
Why Choose Our Chicago Law Firm?
We understand that you trusted the facility to provide proper care for your family member and that you are upset by their injury. Our Illinois nursing home lawyers are here to help you and your loved one seek justice and the compensation you deserve. Here at Kent M. Lucaccioni, Ltd., we serve clients in Illinois from our offices in Chicago and Elgin. Our firm has successfully recovered millions of dollars for individuals who have suffered harm because of nursing home negligence and medical malpractice.
What Are Bedsores?
Also called pressure sores and decubitus ulcers, bedsores occur when blood flow to the skin and tissue is cut off because of pressure on the affected area. They can be worsened by poor hygiene, such as the presence of moisture on a patient’s skin from urine or feces. Because nursing home and hospital patients often are dependent on others to help them move or change position, they are at increased risk for bedsores. When nursing home and hospital staff are not attentive to patients and do not regularly change their position, the result can be devastating for patients and their families.
Bedsores can become painful and dangerous, with symptoms that may include:
- Red, blue or purple discoloration of the skin
- Swelling
- A warm or hot sensation in the area
- Pain and a burning sensation
- Blisters
- Odor
- Infection
- Pus
- Dead skin
- Open sore showing tissue, muscle or bone
Not surprisingly, bedsores can be quite painful. Due to the risk of severe infection, they are also very dangerous and can result in wrongful death if left untreated.
Why Do So Many Nursing Home Residents Develop Bedsores?
Reasons for vulnerability of this population include many residents’ thin skin because of age; risk because of friction, humidity and constant pressure on certain parts of the body; and caregivers’ failure to prevent, diagnose and timely treat bedsores or pressure sores in the earliest stages.
A stage 1 pressure sore may simply show up as an area of reddened skin. Early diagnosis and treatment, along with aggressive ongoing prevention methods, can bring about quick healing. At stage 2, there is an open wound. At stage 3, deep tissue damage has taken place. At stage 4, tissue necrosis or tissue death has begun, and there may be damage to bones and muscles. The most serious cases can result in infections such as sepsis or death.
Experts say that these injuries are very often evidence of neglect by caregivers who should keep residents clean and dry, help ensure good nutrition and observe immobilized residents’ skin frequently. Failure to act at the earliest stages will inevitably lead to a worsening condition.
Are Bedsores Considered Medical Malpractice?
Yes, bedsores can be considered medical malpractice if they were preventable and were caused by the hospital’s or nursing home’s negligence. Failure to treat bedsores can also be malpractice. Our attorneys combine more than a century of experience in personal injury litigation, which has resulted in more than $100 million obtained, to date, for our clients. When you hire our firm for your case, we will commit to doing everything possible to help you pursue a claim on behalf of your neglected or abused loved one.
Like any medical malpractice claim, nursing home neglect claims for bedsores must prove the following:
- There was a duty of care that the provider did not meet
- The breach of duty/not following the standard of care resulted in bedsores
- The person had damage due to the bedsores
We will investigate the medical history of patients to understand any underlying medical conditions, including vascular disorders, to determine if the resident was at risk for developing bedsores. From there, we review the nursing home records to determine:
- Why and when did bedsores develop?
- Were they preventable?
- Was a care plan implemented and followed?
The answers to these questions will determine whether they were victims of nursing home neglect or not. We will carefully guide you on the next steps forward.
Contact A Skilled Nursing Home Neglect Attorney In Chicago Today. Free Consultations.
If your family member developed bedsores in a hospital or a nursing home, we can help you protect their rights and well-being. To discuss your loved one’s nursing home neglect case with one of our Chicago bedsore lawyers, you may schedule a free initial consultation by calling our office today at 877-930-2551 or sending us a confidential email. We serve individuals and families in Chicago and throughout Illinois.
