Infections can travel quickly in nursing homes. And when infections hit, they can turn deadly for persons with weakened or low immune systems. And when that happens, sepsis can emerge.
Older persons in nursing homes are most susceptible to infections and sepsis. If you have a loved one in a nursing home who has suffered or eventually passed away from sepsis due to negligence from the nursing home staff, you may be able to file a claim with the help of an Atlanta sepsis lawyer. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to learn more.
Facts About Sepsis
When an infection strikes, our body tries to fight it through our immune system and the use of antibiotics. But when our immune system is unable to fight an infection, and antibiotics do not seem to help, sepsis can emerge. According to Mayo Clinic, sepsis occurs most commonly in very old people with weakened immune systems, people with chronic illnesses like cancer or diabetes, children, pregnant women, and babies.
Sepsis attacks the body’s impaired immune system, which is common in those with long-term, chronic illnesses. The intensity of the infection can unleash chills, high fever, and high levels of pain. Internal organs can become inflamed and damaged, and even cause death to those with low immunity. Nearly two million people get sepsis annually in the United States, resulting in several hundred thousand deaths a year, according to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.
Sepsis in Nursing Homes
Understaffed or mismanaged nursing homes can be like incubators for infections to breed. Different kinds of viruses or fungi in nursing homes can lead to illnesses like pneumonia, digestive tract infections affecting the stomach and its linings, and even blood or kidney infections. Without proper cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfectant work, nursing home patients can be more susceptible to getting sepsis.
Sepsis may even be caused by poor treatment of nursing home residents. Inattentive or uncaring staff at the nursing home can make the nursing home experience potentially dangerous for an elderly person. Without proper care, nursing home residents could get sepsis. Here are a few examples of how this could occur:
- Missed early diagnosis of a resident’s physical condition
- Unsanitary or otherwise careless handling of medical equipment like feeding tubes, catheters, IVs, thermometers, and more
- Poor personal hygiene of the staff
- Overlooked symptoms of a resident’s illness
Nursing home residents can be neglected or even abused by the staff. Residents may develop irritation or infections from infrequent washings or changing of linens, and these conditions can become worse if bed sores start to develop. If the nursing home staff is negligent in providing care to a resident, and that resident develops an infection that leads to sepsis, then the nursing home and its insurer can be held liable for the negligence.
Loved ones of the nursing home resident could, with ample evidence, file a claim in court for negligence. Contacting a legal professional who knows about nursing home negligence and resident abuse is the first step when seeking legal assistance. An Atlanta sepsis lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you find out what your options are for pursuing a claim for damages.
For a free legal consultation with a Atlanta Sepsis Lawyer serving Atlanta, call (800) 794-0444
Nursing Home Negligence
Negligence in a nursing home can be identified in different ways. Family may notice that their loved one has a fever or chills and ask the staff about it. If the staff responds indirectly or casually like, “Oh, a few of the residents had a cold going around here last week,” that could be a sign of staff indifference.
Overflowing garbage bins in the rooms, unkempt residents, filthy floors, and unwashed meal trays could also be signs of an uncaring nursing home staff. Any of these conditions could indicate uncleanliness and unsanitary conditions that could lead to infections within the complex.
If members of a family have suspicions about the care and dedication of the staff at a nursing home, it’s almost an obligation to contact an attorney to investigate. A law firm that specializes in nursing home abuse, nursing home fraud or nursing home resident negligence can help immensely.
Atlanta Atlanta Sepsis Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Liability of the Nursing Home
Negligence issues could stem from a profit-at-all-cost mentality by upper management, and residents may suffer from a lack of care. This could be a factor in finding liability. Extreme budget cuts in the nursing home can lead to worker dissatisfaction. If their pay was cut and they are unhappy to go to work, their performance will likely show it.
There may be other reasons, too, for nursing home negligence that leads to sepsis. A lack of adequate cleaning supplies can result in unsanitary conditions. Perhaps medical supplies might be in short supply, hindering any possible efforts by staff to provide better care. A nursing home owes your loved one a certain standard of care per § 111-8-56, and if they do not deliver on these regulations, your loved one can suffer.
Once an attorney listens to your charges of negligence against a nursing home, then liability will be discussed. Attorneys will evaluate the liability of the nursing home and see if certain conditions apply, including:
- That the nursing home sidestepped its duty to provide care for the nursing home resident’s infection, which led to sepsis.
- That the management of the nursing home knew about particular unsanitary conditions, and these conditions led to poor care for the residents, which led to infections and/or sepsis.
- That the nursing home staff failed to respond with treatment to a resident’s condition that led to sepsis.
You case may have a combination of factors that contributed to your love one’s sepsis and abuse. An Atlanta sepsis lawyer with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can work with you to understand the issues you are facing, explain the procedure for how to move forward with a negligence claim against the nursing home, and agree to represent you in a court of law to seek damages on your behalf.
We do not charge any fees up front. A percentage of any resulting monetary award would be applied for our case fees. Contact us today to learn more about nursing home negligence that has led to a loved one suffering from sepsis.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
