Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog
Nursing home residents are one of society’s most vulnerable populations. Often, residents have a reduced ability to advocate for themselves due to their health issues, and they may have little contact with the outside world. Thus, Maryland nursing home abuse and neglect is not often reported, and when it is reported, nursing home administration too often ignore the complaints. Even when nursing home administration reports a complaint, the Maryland government is often slow to respond.
The State of Maryland Nursing Homes
According to a recent government study, Maryland ranks seventh-worst in the nation for on-time investigation of nursing home complaints. Perhaps because of that fact, Maryland nursing homes are notorious for the level of care they provide. In fact, reports of Maryland nursing home abuse rose 25% between 2016 and 2017. And with about 15% of nursing home residents and their families saying they would not recommend the nursing home that houses their family member, it seems that some instances of abuse and neglect are going unreported or uninvestigated. However, two pending bills hope to improve Maryland’s response time to complaints of nursing home abuse and neglect.
A recent news report discusses two proposed bills. Under proposed Senate Bill 386, the Maryland Department of Health would have 10 days to respond to a report of nursing home abuse or neglect that resulted in actual patient harm. If the report indicates that there is an immediate threat to a resident, the Department must initiate an investigation within 24 hours and begin the investigation within 48 hours. The proposed bill would also add 10 full-time employees to the state’s Office of Health Care Quality.
Another proposed bill, Senate Bill 4, would revamp and revitalize the nursing home oversight committee by adding additional members and re-delegating responsibilities among existing members.
Recovering Compensation After Discovering Abuse or Neglect
After discovering that a loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, you can pursue a claim for compensation against the nursing home. Due to the nature of these claims, which may involve a breach of a professional standard, they can quickly become complex and may involve additional requirements, such as expert witness testimony. Therefore, it is advised that anyone considering filing a claim against a Maryland nursing home consult with a dedicated personal injury attorney prior to doing so.
Is Your Loved One at Risk?
If you have a loved one in a nursing home, and you believe that they have been a victim of abuse or neglect, contact the dedicated Maryland nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. At Lebowitz & Mzhen, we pride ourselves on providing client-centered representation from the beginning of a case through its final resolution. We diligently work for fair settlement offers, and if the opposing party is unwilling to fairly negotiate, we will not hesitate to take the case to trial. To learn more, call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney.
More Blog Posts:
Spotting Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Before It Is Too Late, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published April 20, 2018.
Nursing Home Employees Are More Likely to Abuse “Difficult” Residents, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published May 7, 2018.