Illinois Medical Malpractice Attorney Provides Critical Nursing Home Information

It is hard enough to have to make the decision to put your loved one in a nursing home.  It is an even harder decision on which nursing home to trust to care for your loved one.  There has been quite a bit of unsettling news about nursing home neglect, where an Illinois medical malpractice attorney has had to file a lawsuit.  Medical malpractice can fall under many different categories, and nursing home negligence is one of them.  

When nursing home staff fails to do what is necessary to ensure a healthy environment for the patient, than an Illinois medical malpractice attorney will be contacted.  There are a variety of medical issues that can arise when a nursing home is negligent due to: lack of staff, lack of trained medical personnel, or lack of background checks on staff members.  Here are just a few to look for:

•    Bedsores (Decubitus Ulcers):  According to a Peoria medical malpractice lawyer, this is a sure sign of medical malpractice that can easily turn into a wrongful death case.  This may seem unlikely, but if you look at how a bedsore progresses, you will think differently.  A bedsore develops when a staff member fails to turn the patient into a different position.  The bedsores begin as red sores on the skin.  If they are not treated, the sores will break the skin.  If still left untreated, the sores will grow and become deep.  They can become so deep that they can reach down to the bone and become infected.  At this point, it is possible antibiotics will not work.  Amputation will be necessary to save the patient’s life.  If the infection causes sepsis or blood poisoning, amputation will not work.  A Peoria medical malpractice lawyer will tell you this happens all too often in nursing homes.


•    Falls:  When patients are not secured into wheel chairs properly, they can fall or slip out.  When patients are left in their beds without the rails put up for their protection, patients can fall out of bed.  When the staff neglects to protect the patient by simple procedures, patients can fall and receive lacerations, abrasions, disfigurement, bone fractions, or head injuries.  These injuries could cause even more serious medical issues, resulting in death.  An Illinois medical malpractice attorney will then be contacted.

•    Dehydration and Malnutrition:  According to a Peoria medical malpractice lawyer, this can happen more often than you think.  When the body is not given proper nutrition, healing is slowed down and can worsen any existing health problems.  Patients who require special diets and are not given the correct diet can lead to serious medical issues.  There have been times when food has been placed in front of a patient, but the patient is not able to feed themselves.  When the staff does not provide the necessary care, medical issues arise, resulting in the necessity of contacting an Illinois medical malpractice attorney.

Nursing homes have the responsibility to make sure your loved one is cared for physically and emotionally.  Do your homework.  Here are two places that can help you choose a safer nursing home:  www.aoa.gov and www.medicare.gov (click on “Compare Nursing Homes in your Area”).  Ask around and visit the nursing home.

Avoiding medical negligence in the nursing home you choose is your best option.  However, if you suspect your loved one has been abused or neglected, contact a Peoria medical malpractice lawyer for help.