Earlier last week in Syracuse, New York, a female nurse was arrested and charged with several crimes related to the alleged abuse of a 92-year-old patient. According to a report by one local news source, the nurse was not only charged with the abuse-related crimes but also with falsifying business records to cover up the abuse.
Evidently, back in March of this year, the nurse was assigned to care for the 92-year-old victim. On March 25, the patient did not want to move from her bed to a wheelchair, despite being asked to do so. The nurse grabbed the patient by her upper arms and forcefully placed her in the wheelchair.
The elderly patient then developed significant bruising. Other nursing home employees noticed the bruising and reported it to management, who assigned the nurse in question to investigate. Of course, rather than admit to abusing the patient, the nurse reported that the elderly woman was suffering from senile pupura, which is the purpling of the skin, a common condition in the elderly.
However, when the patient was checked out by a doctor, the woman’s marks were diagnosed as bruises. In turn, the nurse was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person in the first degree and falsifying business records. She was also charged with willfully violating a public health law.
The nurse was immediately suspended pending an investigation. She was shortly thereafter fired once the nursing home completed the investigation.
Elder Abuse in Maryland Nursing Homes
The unfortunate fact is that this kind of elder abuse happens every day in Maryland and across the country. The reality is that many nursing home employees have little supervision and can get away with almost anything because often their patients do not have frequent contact with the outside world. When a nursing home patient does reach out to a friend or family member, they are often met with skepticism about their claim.
If your loved one approaches you to tell you that he or she is being neglected or abused by the nursing home in which he or she lives, make sure you take the claim seriously. Each year hundreds of elderly people are injured or die due to the negligent or intentional actions of their caregivers.
Are You in Need of an Attorney?
If your loved one has told you that he or she is being neglected or abused by nursing home staff, the first thing to do is ensure that he or she is removed from the threatening situation. Once your loved one is safe, consider speaking to a Maryland personal injury attorney about bringing a case against the nursing home. In many cases, we have recovered substantial monetary awards for clients who were abused by nursing homes or who were injured by an employee’s negligence. Click here, or call 410-654-3600 today to schedule a free initial consultation with a dedicated nursing home attorney at the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers today.
See More Blog Posts:
New York Nursing Home Questioned After Another Patient Death, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published August 18, 2014.
Staffing Shortage May Have Been Responsible for Boy’s Death at Maryland Group Home, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published July 28, 2014.