Earlier this month in West Virginia, a woman sued a local nursing home, claiming that the home was responsible for the death of her loved one. Specifically, she claimed that the nursing home was negligent for intentionally understaffing the home, increasing the danger of a serious incident occurring.
According to one local news report, the deceased became a resident of the nursing home in April of this year. During her short stay at the nursing home, she suffered from falls, pressure sores, pneumonia, weight loss, and a urinary tract infection before she passed away on September 17.
The plaintiff in the lawsuit claims that the defendant nursing home was aware of budgetary constraints that had resulted in short staffing. These staffing problems had led to deficits in patient care. However, when the nursing home explained its services to the plaintiff prior to her deciding to place her loved one there, it presented itself as a dedicated and capable facility.
The plaintiff has filed several claims against the nursing home, including nursing home violations, negligence, corporate negligence, medical malpractice, gross negligence, premises liability, and violations of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
Nursing Home Staffing Issues
Due to the high cost of employing skilled employees, nursing home managers often attempt to cut corners when it comes to the number of staff on the clock at any given time. However, these attempts to further pad the home’s bottom line put all patients in the home at greater risk should they require personalized attention from one of the staff members.
Indeed, the purpose of becoming a resident at a nursing home is to have a skilled nurse on call at all times. If a nurse is not available, or a resident must wait in order to get the attention of a nurse, the resident is not getting what he or she signed up for. More importantly, his or her safety is jeopardized.
Nursing Homes’ Duty to Their Residents
All nursing homes have an affirmative duty to provide a certain level of care to their residents. When a nursing home fails to live up to this duty, management may be held liable for any injuries that occur as a result of this lapse. To learn more about how to bring a lawsuit against a negligent nursing home, contact a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney.
Do You Have a Loved One in a Maryland Nursing Home?
If you have a loved one who has recently been involved in a preventable accident in a Maryland nursing home, you or your loved one may be entitled to monetary damages. The dedicated attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of combined experience holding culpable nursing homes responsible for the negligent care they provide to their residents. To learn more about how to hold a negligent nursing home responsible, and to speak to a dedicated attorney about your case, call 410-654-3600 to set up a free initial consultation.
See More Blog Posts:
Nursing Home Video Catches Employees Abusing Elderly Patients, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published December 5, 2014.
Elderly Woman Killed in Nursing Home Accident, Family Settles Suit, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published November 13, 2014.