According to a report that has been recently published by a local news source, several residents at a nursing home appear to have been victimized by acts of physical abuse committed by nursing home staff. Some of the abuse was witnessed by other residents or staff, but it had not been reported until a state investigation at one home uncovered nine possible victims of abuse, six of whom required additional administrative action. Despite that, law enforcement had not been contacted for any of those alleged acts of abuse.
Law Enforcement Hears of Abuse, But It’s Too Late to Pursue Charges
The author of the report interviewed a spokesperson for the local police, who only heard about the alleged abuse from the media and reports of the administrative action and other state action taken against the home. According to the report, the police department expressed concern that they only just heard of the abuse, and they stated that they were not in a position to make any arrests because the state action disrupted the element of surprise.
Whether the police department could still investigate and pursue charges or not, at this point, charges appear unlikely. Although criminal charges may not be an option to hold the perpetrators of any abuse responsible for their acts, a civil nursing home abuse claim may be available to stop any abuse and recover damages for economic and non-economic harms that the victims of abuse have suffered.
Victims of Nursing Home Abuse Deserve an Effective Advocate
Victims of nursing home abuse or neglect are often referred to an in-house reporting agency to discuss what occurred. Acts that may be criminal are often noted by the security or human resources staff at the nursing home, but authorities may not be called, due to the harm that may result to a home’s reputation. Victims of abuse deserve better. An alleged act of nursing home abuse should be investigated by the police department and additional investigators if necessary. A qualified law firm with experience in nursing home abuse cases can perform an effective investigation into claims of abuse before any evidence has been destroyed.
Maryland Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
If you or a loved one has been involved in an incident of nursing home abuse or neglect, the attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers can offer you the advice and representation that you need to pursue a claim for damages based on the negligent or intentional acts of a nursing home employee. Don’t let your loved ones be victims who are not heard. Call one of our offices to be put into touch with a Maryland nursing home abuse attorney and schedule a consultation to talk about your case today. Contact us by calling toll-free at 1-800-654-1949 or using our online form to schedule a no-obligation consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Appellate Court Reverses Lower Court’s Dismissal of Plaintiff’s Nursing Home Slip-and-Fall Lawsuit, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published January 6, 2017.
State Passes Bill Providing Cameras in Nursing Home Facilities in Hopes of Decreasing Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published December 21, 2016.