Posts for the 'Medical Malpractice' Category
Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, designed to bring attention to issues of elder neglect, abuse and exploitation. Falling on June 15 each year, the International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) uses this day to encourage increasing public knowledge of elderly abuse and educating the public in ways that such abuse can be recognized and prevented.
>INFORMATION: Nursing Home Elder Abuse
Pharmacy Labeling Error Resulted in Mother Giving Wrong Medication to Baby
More than 3.8 billion prescriptions are filled each year, and in very rare instances a pharmacy error or mistake could create a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation. The Spokesman-Review recently profiled the story of a baby from Spokane, Washington, whose mother gave her the wrong medication due to a pharmacy labeling error.
>>INFORMATION: Pharmacy Error Lawsuits
Tennessee Nursing Home Negligence Lawsuit Caps
Although the nursing home industry was pushing for a cap on damages in Tennessee nursing home neglect lawsuits, the state legislator failed to pass the proposed bill out of a House subcommittee this week. If the bill had been passed and ultimately enacted as law, it would have been a major setback for the protection of elderly and ill nursing home residents in Tennessee, as it would have removed much of the incentive for facilities to provide quality care.
>>INFORMATION: Nursing Home Negligence
Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month
March 2009 is being observed as National Brain Injury Awareness Month by the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA). A nationwide campaign is being conducted to help raise awareness about brain injuries and the importance of providing treatment, rehabilitation, support and resources for victims and their families.
>>INFORMATION: Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuits
Nursing Home Negligence Lawyers Face New Discovery Hurdles Created by Bush Administration
When a nursing home resident is injured due to the negligence of a facility or their staff, a nursing home lawsuit not only helps the family secure compensation, but also acts as an important safeguard to encourage the industry to provide the proper standard of care. However, a new rule enacted by President Bush in the last months of his administration has made it more difficult for nursing home negligence lawyers to obtain some of the information necessary to document cases for those who have been abused or neglected.
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Nursing Home Pressure Ulcers Occurred in 11% of Residents in 2004
According to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 11% of nursing home residents suffered from pressure ulcers in 2004. These painful and potentially life-threatening sores remain a serious problem at facilities throughout the country, and in many cases nursing home pressure sores can be prevented if certain steps are taken.
Nursing Home Restraint Use Continues to Drop
According to a report in USA Today, the number of facilities which use nursing home restraints has dropped from 21.1% in 1991 to only 5.5% in 2007. This decline demonstrates the growing recognition that the use of physical restraints can diminish the quality of life for the elderly and ill, and in some cases it can lead to serious injuries or death.
>>INFORMATION: Nursing Home Restraint Lawsuits
Nursing Home Ratings Released by Medicare
Last week, the federal government released a new nursing home rating system which assigns an overall score to every facility inspected by Medicare and assigns one to five stars for staffing, quality and health inspections. While the nursing home industry has raised concerns about the public posting of these ratings, the system is designed help families evaluate facilities and reduce the risk that their loved one will suffer from nursing home neglect or abuse.
Hospital Bedsore Lawsuits
According to a new government report, the occurrence of bedsores in hospitals has increased nearly 80% since 1993. These serious open wounds were mainly found among elderly patients, and can have a devastating impact on their overall health and quality of life. The medical malpractice lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. investigate potential hospital bedsore lawsuits nationwide.
Abuse of Nursing Home Residents Leads to Criminal Charges for Teen Workers
Six teenagers working at a Minnesota nursing home face criminal charges for abusing nursing home residents over a period of several months earlier this year. The criminal complaint indicates that they harassed, assaulted, groped and even spit in the mouths of residents suffering from conditions like Alzheimers and dementia. These despicable acts beg the question of how supervisors at the nursing home were so negligent that they did not know this was occurring with their teenage employees.
