Bedsore Injuries. Bedsore Injury Lawyers in Cleveland

What to Do If You or a Loved One Suffered Serious Bedsore Injuries

By studying Medicare patients, researchers have determined that bedsores increase the risk of hospital readmission and death, per sciencedaily.com. “[I]ndividuals at the highest risk are those with existing chronic conditions, such as congestive heart failure, pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, as well as those on steroids,” the article stated. Furthermore, nearly 5 percent of those patients developed a bedsore while in the hospital. Of the 3,000 patients who were admitted with a bedsore, 16.7 percent developed another one during their stay.

If you or a loved one suffered bedsore injuries while being treated by medical professionals, you may be able to take legal action for your pain, suffering, and other losses. Contact The Mellino Law Firm to discuss your legal rights and options with an experienced bedsore injury attorney in Cleveland. We also wrote the book on medical malpractice claims; request a free copy today.

Get in touch with our firm at (440) 333-3800 for a free consultation. We have office locations in Cleveland and Rocky River.

How Do Bedsores Occur?

“Neglect is the silent killer in nursing homes,” CBS News has stated. “By some estimates, malnutrition, dehydration, bedsores, and infection—caused by neglect—account for half of nursing home deaths and injuries.”

“New research is suggesting that the battle against bedsores requires a team approach, enlisting everyone from nurses and nursing assistants to laundry workers, nutritionists, maintenance workers, and even in-house beauticians,” nytimes.com stated in 2008.

Yet, in 2014, nursing home residents continue to die from the pressure ulcers. This wouldn’t happen if, as the Times’ bedsore overview stated, staff members changed the patient’s position every couple of hours, kept the patient’s skin dry, fed the person well, and ensured that he or she did not become dehydrated. But many nursing homes say they’re understaffed and overworked. Sometimes, that truly isn’t their fault.

“As [private equity firms] have acquired nursing homes, they have often reduced costs, increased profits and quickly resold facilities for significant gains,” nytimes.com said in 2007. “The typical nursing home acquired by a large investment company before 2006 scored worse than national rates in 12 of 14 indicators that regulators use to track ailments of long-term residents. Those ailments include bedsores and easily preventable infections, as well as the need to be restrained. Before they were acquired by private investors, many of those homes scored at or above national averages in similar measurements.”

Currently, one woman who was awarded $110 million in the nursing home neglect death of her mother in 2010 is still trying to figure out who to collect from.

“Collection was thwarted through a complex transaction that sent Trans Healthcare’s liabilities to a shell company called Fundamental Long Term Care Inc., which had no assets, while creating a solvent nursing home chain that was protected from judgments,” attorneys told reporters.

Defendants have denied trying to escape liability, according to the September 22, 2014, article on claimsjournal.com.

Contact Our Firm Today

If a loved one died from a neglected bedsore, attorney Chris Mellino welcomes you to contact our office for a free consultation. You may also download Chris’ free, easy-to-read guide, Your Ohio Medical Malpractice Questions Answered, read testimonials, or learn about previous case results.

Our Cleveland bedsore injury lawyers are prepared to fight for your rights, as well as the justice your loved one deserves. Depending on the circumstances involved in your case, you may be able to recover compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses and treatment, lost income and/or wages, funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and more.

Call The Mellino Law Firm at (440) 333-3800 or contact us online today to request a complimentary case evaluation.