Nursing Home Bedsore Lawyer in Alabama
Bedsores may be a sign of patient neglect in a nursing home or assisted living facility.
In a well-managed nursing home, a patient prone to bedsores should be repositioned or turned at least every few hours. Unfortunately, many nursing homes and assisted living facilities fail to hire enough staff or train them properly to ensure that nursing home patients receive this care.
In many cases, the development of bedsores results from substandard patient care for residents with mobility issues due to their age or health. When families entrust their loved ones to the care of nursing home professionals, they rightfully expect the individual will receive attentive care.
The Dothan, Alabama nursing home abuse lawyers at the law firm of Gartlan Injury Law have years of experience handling nursing home negligence and nursing home abuse lawsuits. We have the skills and resources to fight large corporations and nursing homes to protect our clients’ interests. If your loved one has developed bedsores due to the negligence of a nursing home’s staff or facility in Alabama, call now for a free and confidential consultation.
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What Are Bedsores?
A bedsore is a breakdown of skin tissue that most often affects the tailbone, hips, elbows, or heels. They are typically caused by unrelieved pressure and restricted blood flow to an area of the body from lying or sitting in one position for extended periods of time. Bedsores are also known as pressure sores and decubitus ulcers.
What Are Common Causes of Bedsores?
Bedsores (also called pressure ulcers) may develop around bony areas of the body when an area of skin experiences extensive pressure. In most situations, people shift and reposition themselves frequently enough to prevent bedsores.
However, some elderly and sick people who are confined to a bed or a wheelchair may not be able to move and are at greater risk of developing bedsores. Left untreated, bedsores (pressure ulcers) can develop into a serious infection. Caregivers should prevent the development of pressure sores by helping patients re-position themselves regularly. For this reason, bedsores often result from improper care.
Factors that may increase the likelihood of a nursing home patient developing bedsores include:
- Poor circulation
- Pressure from sitting or lying too long
- Failure to reposition the patient
- Lack of good hygiene
- Friction or rubbing
- Moisture buildup
- Immobility of the patient
- Poor nutrition or hydration
Common sites of bedsores include:
- Elbows
- Heels and ankles
- Shoulder blades
- Back of the head
- Buttocks or tailbone
A bedsore is categorized by how severe the damage is to the soft tissue. The stages are:
- Stage I – Pinkish or reddish unbroken skin. Often, the sore is firmer, softer, cooler, or warmer than the nearby skin. No sore is present.
- Stage II – Some skin loss has occurred, and the wound is an open sore like a blister. The surrounding tissues may show discoloration. Stage II sores typically heal relatively quickly with treatment.
- Stage III – The wound penetrates into the fat layer. It is imperative that pressure relief is provided and that the area is dried. A bedsore of this severity may be beyond the capabilities of nursing home staff to treat without the assistance of a certified wound care provider.
- Stage IV – This is the most severe stage of bedsores. It might affect muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissue. Some of the most common complications include severe infection and dead tissue around the source of the wound. These bedsores may require surgery to repair and can take months or years to heal completely.
- Non-Stageable – When the bedsore is covered with a dry, dark scab or debris, it cannot be properly staged.
- Deep Tissue Injury – This injury has purple, deep red, or maroon discoloration of intact or non-intact skin, which does not lose redness when pressed. Deep tissue injury is diagnosed when the wound is so deep that muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, or dead tissue become visible.
When Could a Nursing Home Be Liable for Neglect?
Bedsores are often a sign of neglect. Nursing homes must ensure that residents who are at risk for bedsores are given adequate care to prevent their development. If the nursing home facility fails to provide reasonable care to the patient, the nursing home might be held liable for neglect.
Nursing homes must employ a medical team to oversee the patient’s care. If the health care professionals at the nursing home fail to provide necessary treatment, the nursing home may be liable for the negligence of their employees. An experienced attorney at the law firm of Gartlan Injury Law can help you evaluate the situation and, if appropriate, bring a medical malpractice claim to recover compensation.
There are instances when someone is so sick that bedsores are impossible to avoid. These are deemed “clinically unavoidable.” Nursing homes must take all precautions and provide all available treatments before a bedsore can be classified as such. Most bedsores can be avoided if the nursing home takes the appropriate precautions.
Can You Sue a Nursing Home for Bedsores in Alabama?
If your loved one was diagnosed with bedsores, an experienced nursing home abuse attorney can conduct an in-depth investigation to determine if negligence was a factor. If a lawyer finds evidence of negligence, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim against the nursing home.
Sub-standard nursing home medical care greatly increases the risk of a nursing home resident developing bedsores (pressure ulcers). Examples of negligent care include:
- Leaving immobile patients in the same position for long periods
- Allowing patients to lay in wet bed sheets or soiled diapers
- Failing to check for bedsores regularly
- Failing to provide proper nutrition
- Failing to provide fluids
- Failing to notify the appropriate medical staff of a patient’s condition
- Failing to transfer a patient to a hospital when medically necessary
It’s possible to sue a nursing home for bedsores in certain situations, but you need the help of a skilled lawyer who is familiar with nursing home liability, bedsore lawsuits, and medical malpractice to do so. Contact Gartlan Injury Law firm to find out if a bedsore lawsuit is appropriate in your loved one’s situation.
Contact A Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer in Alabama Today
If you believe that a family member has been harmed as a result of negligence in a nursing home, call an Alabama nursing home neglect attorney at the law firm of Gartlan Injury Law. We are experienced in handling bedsore cases and other nursing home injuries caused by neglect. Call now for a confidential and free consultation if your loved one has suffered abuse and neglect in an assisted living facility.
