Nursing home facilities are designed to care for those who are weak or in need of physical care. They provide many services to residents in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 15,600 nursing homes and 1.7 million beds.
If you have a suspicion that there is any type of abuse or neglect occurring to your loved one, then get in touch with a San Diego medication errors lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. We can help resolve the issue so that your loved one obtains a fair settlement for injuries incurred.
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm partners with professionals across the nation to help you pursue a fair settlement on behalf of your loved one.
Get started with a free consultation today. Also, you do not have to worry about paying any fees until we collect on your behalf. Just call (800) 842-6336 today!
What You Should Know About the Medications Older Adults Take
Many people take at least one prescription drug for one condition or another. Seniors are even more apt to need medication. As we age, health conditions progress, and medicine helps alleviate some of the symptoms. In fact, NPR reporting states that 119 million Americans took medication in 2016.
Some medications that seniors take include the following:
- Hydrocodone — This is a pain medication.
- Simvastatin — This is a cholesterol medication.
- Lisinopril — This is a high blood pressure medication.
- Levothyroxine — This is for the thyroid.
- Omeprazole — This is for acid reflux.
- Azithromycin — This medication is used to treat bacterial infections, such as pneumonia.
- Metformin — This medication helps patients manage diabetes.
Types of Medication Errors Your Loved One May Have Suffered From
When someone is residing in a nursing home, they are under the care and responsibility of the staff. That means they are counting on the facility to help them with their daily needs, which includes medication management.
Nursing home staff must properly dispense medication to ensure that no one is harmed. There are several ways that medication errors can occur. These are as follows:
- The staff may fail to provide the medication as needed, meaning the person does not get the much-needed medicine. This can result in the original disease or disorder flaring up and causing distress.
- The nursing home staff may give too much of the medication, leading to a potential overdose. This could have life-threatening consequences.
- The staff may not give the medication on time, thereby causing a drop in blood levels and symptoms to arise.
- The staff may mix up the medication with someone else’s medication and give the person a completely different one. In this case, there could be unexpected side effects, reactions with other medications the patient is on, and more.
- The staff may give expired medication.
For a free legal consultation with a Medication Errors Lawyer serving San Diego, call (800) 842-6336
Nursing Home Responsibility When Wrong Medication Is Dispensed
Nursing homes play many roles. They care for the residents and assist them in getting ready for their daily tasks. From bathing and dressing to going to appointments and social activities, their role is instrumental.
One other role they play is ensuring that residents stay healthy during their time in residence. That means providing healthy meals, making sure patients get adequate sleep, helping them with therapy, and distributing medication as needed. When someone enters a nursing home facility, they expect that all the appropriate measures will be taken to ensure their well-being and safety.
When a nursing home fails to uphold its duty in caring for the patient, neglect, abuse, and/or medical malpractice may occur. The law makes room for you to recover financial compensation—no matter which one of these occurs.
Your San Diego medication errors lawyer will assist you in filing the proper claim and pursuing compensation.
San Diego Medication Errors Lawyer Near Me (800) 842-6336
Keep the Statute of Limitations in Mind When Filing a Lawsuit
Every state has a statute of limitations for civil suits that requires the attorney to file the lawsuit in a timely manner. In California, there is no exception to this rule. California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1 indicates that you have up to two years to make a personal injury claim.
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Injuries and Results of Medication Errors that Your Loved One May Have Suffered
When nursing home staff fails to administer medication properly, it can result in serious consequences. A patient may have an allergic reaction and need hospitalization. Others could suffer from stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Furthermore, there could be long-term consequences if the error is not caught right away.
Not having the regular medication you are supposed to have could cause an initial problem to progress to a serious case. It could become deadly. If your loved one lost their life due to medication errors, then you can file a wrongful death suit. The statute of limitations for a wrongful death lawsuit is up to two years from the date of death.
There are other types of injuries and problems associated with medication errors. Some could involve mental health trauma. If the patient was taking antidepressants, then not having these (or having the wrong dosage) could be emotionally traumatic.
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Connect with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to Begin Working on Your Case
Taking the next step is important to begin the process of healing. Your first step is to contact our firm. In addition, you can document any evidence you already have to facilitate the process.
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we are here to help fight for your loved one. We believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. No one is exempt from paying for the harm they have caused. Begin working with a San Diego medication errors lawyer. Call (800) 842-6336 today for a free case consultation with our team.
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