Mom was injured severely in a nursing home and died, Has anyone ever sued a nursing home for injuries that led to death of your parent?

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Stressed52 Asked October 2014

Mom was injured severely in a nursing home and died, Has anyone ever sued a nursing home for injuries that led to death of your parent?

Mom was admitted to nursing home for care for two weeks when she had a mysterious "fall".....well the male nurse said she rolled out of bed evidently. She sustained a severe bruise on her forehead and back of head as well as broken ribs. The coroners report said she died of blunt force trauma to the head causing 3 brain hemorrhages.

The nursing home did not seek medical help but just held ice on her head. After 16 hours they sent her to the hospital when she could not speak or open her eyes.

The "facts" from the home have changed 4 times. One entire set of her clothing is missing and we were not informed until the following day and then told numerous times she was fine and "do not come to the nursing home she is fine." She wasn't she died 8 days later.

They were going to charge me for holding her bed for her but then decided to hold it for free, they have failed to bill her insurance for the two weeks she was a patient there, and everything is just screaming "FOUL PLAY." What do I do now? I feel so guilty for ever putting her in this home even though they seemed like a good place. So many people in the hospital told us that Mom did NOT JUST ROLL OUT OF BED AND SUSTAIN THESE INJURIES!

I feel like we owe it to her to follow this up but how???? Police??? Attorney???

I have heard from so many different people that it is very easy to hurt especially patients with memory problems because the staff counts on them forgetting the facts of what has happened.

The more I think about it, the angrier I become, knowing someone could have hurt her on purpose.

I need advice please.

Skilled Nursing Facility

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score 1 · Answer 1

What formal account of events have you received from the Nursing Home? At the very least, I would be demanding a proper report from the manager or director, including an explanation of why missing information is missing. I should also be demanding an explanation of why there was a delay of 16 hours in sending her to hospital when she had sustained a visible head injury.

Try not to torture yourself with fears that these injuries might have been inflicted intentionally. What possible motive would there be for that? However, it does reek of chaotic negligence and that is why I agree you should seek advice from a specialist attorney. Just remember that your goal is not blood, or money, or anyone's head on a plate, but a clear and frank account of what exactly happened. You are entitled to demand that your mind is set at rest.

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score 0 · Answer 2

Nursing homes cannot "restrain" residents. This includes being unable to even tuck in the sheets on both sides of the bed or put up the rails on both sides. Many use bed alarms and come running when they go off. The damage a fall can do to an older person can be considerable, sometimes they fall, fall again trying to right themselves, etc. repeated hits. Every piece of furniture which could help them steady themselves becomes an object that can injure them. Few families or facilities have the resources for 24 hour eyes on care. So don't blame yourself. Repeated injuries eventually leading to death is common with dementia sufferers. Especially those who have a measure of strength and will.
All that said, great advice to run it by a medical malpractice attorney. Especially if it will bring you some closure. It won't bring Mom back, but if it truly was malpractice or worse could save someone else.

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score 0 · Answer 3

It's called an witnessed fall. The nurse came in and found your mom on the floor. I doubt anyone in the NH has any more idea than you do how your poor mom sustained these injuries. But for your own sanity, stop playing detective by yourself. Go visit a medical malpractice attorney. See if s/he thinks you have a case. A good medmal atty will not charge you upfront; they will take their "cut" out of any award. Don't go down the "what if" path. Get some representation today if you are having difficulty letting this go. You need to grieve your loss with a peaceful mind. I'm so sorry for your loss.

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score 0 · Answer 4

Have you seen a medical malpractice attorney about this?

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Mom was injured severely in a nursing home and died, Has anyone ever sued a nursing home for injuries that led to death of your parent?

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