Nursing home residents should receive appropriate care. If your loved one experienced an infection while living in a nursing home that went untreated, the facility put their health at risk. Untreated infections can lead to severe conditions and jeopardize long-term health. In some tragic cases, untreated infections can become fatal.
Many would consider a nursing home’s failure to treat your loved one’s infection as a form of abuse or neglect. If your loved one suffered from an untreated infection, you could have grounds for legal action. Some victims recover compensation in various forms.
If you would like to explore your legal options, consider contacting a Savannah untreated infections lawyer. The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can discuss your situation and help you determine the right course of action. Call us today to learn more.
Common Types of Infections
Infections generally occur when bacteria or viruses spread throughout the body. Millions of people suffer from infections every year. While the immune system of a healthy individual can fight off most germs, sometimes they need an antibiotic or antiviral drug to keep an infection from becoming more serious. It is essential to catch an infection in the early stages in order to control it effectively.
Severe infections can lead to permanent damage to limbs, organs, and tissue. Infections can even become fatal if left untreated. Some of the common types of infections include:
- Colds and flu
- Strep throat
- Urinary tract infections
- Food poisoning
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Cellulitis
Symptoms of Infection
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists a range of common signs and symptoms of an infection:
- Throat pain
- Fever
- Nasal congestion
- Redness, soreness, or swelling around a wound
- Mouth sores
- Discomfort while urinating
If you notice any symptoms of infection in your elderly loved one, seek immediate medical attention. If you have a loved one living in a nursing home, the trained staff responsible for the care of your loved one should recognize the signs of a possible infection and react accordingly.
How Infections Spread
Infections can happen to anyone, regardless of where they reside, but nursing home environments put residents at higher risk of infection for several reasons. Nursing homes often house many residents in relatively close quarters. These facilities also have many common areas where residents, staff, and visitors share space. With so many different people in a communal environment, it becomes easy for infection-causing germs to spread from one person to another. Finally, some elderly residents of nursing homes have weakened immune systems that make it easier for an infection to become serious.
A nursing home facility is responsible for reducing the risk of infection for residents by practicing proper protocol to keep their facility sanitary. The facility should also quarantine any infected individuals appropriately. Failure to recognize and treat an infection in time is not only a risk for the infected individual, but it also puts others in a nursing home at risk.
Abuse and Neglect
While many residents in nursing homes feel happy and fulfilled and receive appropriate treatment, it might come as a surprise that abuse and neglect are not uncommon in these facilities. According to a Department of Health and Human Services study conducted in 2014, nearly one in three residents on Medicare who live in skilled nursing facilities experienced “adverse events, defined as harm resulting from medical care.”
This harm could take the form of neglect, abuse, or mistreatment. This figure does not account for any unreported incidents, meaning this already alarming statistic could underrepresent the actual number of elderly adults who suffer mistreatment at their nursing home.
If your loved one has suffered from an untreated infection, this may have resulted from abuse, neglect, or mistreatment at a nursing home. No one deserves to be mistreated, especially elderly adults. Nursing home abuse and neglect are serious offenses that can jeopardize your loved one’s health and wellbeing. If you think your loved one was a victim, a Savannah untreated infections lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm might be able to help you pursue compensation. Call today for a free case review with a team member.
Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987
In 1987, Congress passed a law known as the Nursing Home Reform Act (42 USC § 1395i-3) outlining appropriate treatment in nursing homes. This act requires nursing homes to provide care for residents to the best of their ability. If abuse or neglect occurs in a nursing home, such as an infection that is left untreated, this is a direct violation of federal law and could provide grounds for legal action.
For a free legal consultation with a Savannah Untreated Infections Lawyer serving Savannah, call (800) 794-0444
Potentially Recoverable Compensation
If a loved one has suffered in any way due to an untreated infection while living in a nursing home, several forms of compensation are potentially available. This compensation could include reimbursement for medical bills, compensation for pain and suffering, relocation costs to a new nursing home facility, and more.
Sometimes, courts award punitive damages to punish responsible parties who act in an especially egregious or negligent way. Punitive damages hopefully deter future abuse, neglect, or similar behavior. Because every case is different, it could be beneficial to speak with a Savannah untreated infections lawyer to learn more about your legal options.
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If your loved one lived in a nursing home and experienced an untreated infection, the results could devastate your entire family. An untreated infection can cause a great deal of bodily harm. To make matters worse, you could end up struggling to trust caregivers again with the health of your loved one, while dealing with expensive medical bills and a mountain of debt.
During this challenging time, it could feel stressful to think about filing a legal claim. However, if another party caused your loved one’s suffering, your family could be eligible for compensation. A Savannah untreated infections lawyer could answer any questions you might have and discuss your potential claim. Call us to speak with a team member at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Act today, so you can focus on what is important: the health and wellbeing of your loved ones.
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