While some nursing home patients may need several ongoing medications to treat multiple ailments, or even just one complicated illness, there is a limit to how much is necessary. This form of overprescribing multiple different medications is known as polypharmacy, and it may qualify as a form of abuse. Even though there are countless patients who benefit from being prescribed several medications simultaneously, when the process is done incorrectly, the side effects can be severe.
As past cases of polypharmacy show, too much medication is not only irresponsible, it is unethical and abusive. As many nursing home residents do not realize that they are being overprescribed, they are not being provided their basic rights. Further, the more medication is prescribed, the more it can muddle their perspective, making it even harder for them to report.
Besides the victim’s impaired judgment and hampered cognitive function, polypharmacy abuse in the elderly can also result in serious physical side effects, ranging from effects on mobility to wrongful death cases. Our polypharmacy attorneys see countless cases of overmedication taking place in nursing homes all over the country. We know how much your loved one means to you, and we know the trust that it takes to put them in the care of a nursing home. When nursing home staff fail to provide them with adequate medical care, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your family’s overall pain and suffering.
To learn more about your legal options in a case of polypharmacy, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for your free consultation with a team member.
Financial Compensation in Cases of Polypharmacy Abuse
As the pain and suffering caused by polypharmacy cases can be wide-ranging, the amount of compensation the victim is awarded may depend on several unique factors, including the financial, physical, and mental suffering they endured. While every abuse case is unique, speaking with a Phoenix polypharmacy lawyer may help you better understand how compensation is calculated. Ultimately, most cases will be left for the court to decide in the event that the offenders do not attempt to settle with the victims before it reaches that stage in the legal process.
However, there are some main factors that will be considered when the time comes to making a decision on the amount of compensation that is deemed necessary. Compensation awarded in these cases can be used for, but may not be limited to:
- Diagnosis of their illnesses and a reevaluation of their medical needs
- Hospital bills, including the costs of new medications, as well as previous financial hardships
- Mental or emotional anguish, including strains it placed on familial relationships
- Financial compensation for money spent over the course of their nursing home stay
- Relocation of the victim to a new care facility
- Transportation services
- Mobility devices, such as wheelchairs
- Funeral services and burial costs, in the event of a wrongful death case
- And more
When you retain the services of a nursing home abuse attorney, they will begin the process of investigating what truly took place in your case. This may include tracking medical bills, examining pharmacy fillings, speaking with nursing home staff, interviewing former patients, viewing video surveillance, and more. After the evidence is examined, we will work to present your claim to the court so they can see the full extent of the pain and suffering caused. While the end result of every elder abuse case is slightly different, there is a good chance that the case will be taken to a civil court where it will be heard by a judge and jury – if necessary.
We realize that the legal process may be a bit confusing. We understand that you have a lot going on right now, so we would love to offer our services to help take the legal burden off your shoulders. While we handle the legal side of things, you will be free to focus on your loved one’s recovery and moving your family toward a brighter future.
To learn more about the legal road ahead if you choose to file a nursing home abuse case against the parties responsible for polypharmacy, contact a Pintas & Mullins Law Firm team member today for your free consultation.
The Dangers of Elderly Polypharmacy
As nursing home residents are inherently at a greater risk of serious health complications due to their advanced age, polypharmacy cases can endanger them in virtually every aspect of their life. These dangers include physical effects, such as falling while weakened or impaired due to the medication, as well as internal and mental hardships. With each different combination of medications, a unique set of difficulties may arise that will vary based on the victim’s physiological makeup. In some cases, these dangers may take months or even years to make themselves known.
Common dangers presented by polypharmacy in the elderly include, but may not be limited to:
- Increased frequency in improper medicating, due to multiple medications causing confusion
- Change in heart function or blood pressure
- Difficulty sleeping, or, alternatively, staying awake
- Changing of brain function
- Multiple medications resulting in other medications needing to be prescribed
- Difficulty with bowel function
- Increased susceptibility to bruising or bleeding
- Weight fluctuations
- Aches and pains
- Mobility impairments
- Wrongful death
- And more
For a free legal consultation with a Polypharmacy Lawyer serving Phoenix, call (800) 794-0444
Polypharmacy Lawyers Who Fight for Their Client’s Rights
The nursing home abuse attorneys at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm see the extensive physical and psychological impact improper medication can have on victims and their families. After all your family experienced, we want to make your legal battle as painless as possible moving forward. If you have any questions about your polypharmacy case or if you are wondering how to proceed, give Pintas & Mullins Law Firm a call today for your free consultation. A representative will be standing by to give you peace of mind.
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