Bed sores indicate that your family member may not be receiving proper nursing care or medical supervision. These wounds are excruciating and, without medical intervention, can lead to infection, nerve damage, amputation, or death.
If you have noticed sores or other signs of medical neglect, contact the Mount Laurel personal injury attorneys of Ginsberg & O’Connor, P.C. We pursue lawsuits for nursing home negligence in Burlington County and surrounding areas of New Jersey.
Bed Sores Are a Telltale Sign of Neglect
Decubitus ulcers, more commonly known as bed sores or pressure sores, are injuries to the skin and underlying tissues caused by pressure and reduced circulation. They typically develop around bony areas — elbows, heels, ankles, hips, or tailbone. Bedridden patients in nursing homes and hospitals are prone to bed sores when they lie in one position for prolonged periods. Ulcers start as discolored, tender skin, develop into open sores, and may eventually penetrate all the way to muscle and bone.
The standard of care in nursing homes is to turn bedridden patients every few hours to alleviate the pressure and prevent bed sores. In understaffed or poorly managed nursing homes, pressure sores can develop and progress rapidly. Nurses and staff doctors have a duty to recognize the signs and treat bed sores aggressively, including promptly transferring patients with advanced-stage ulcers to a hospital.
See our Bed Sores FAQ page.
Other Signs of Improper Care
Undiagnosed medical conditions take a heavy toll on nursing home residents whose health is compromised to begin with. Our experienced attorneys have handled cases of undiagnosed illness, untreated fractures, severe dehydration and malnutrition, medication errors, and other substandard medical care.
Bed sores are not always preventable. But if your loved one has taken a dramatic turn for the worse or complains of pain or neglect, take action on your suspicions. We can intervene to obtain the medical records and hold elder care facilities accountable. The lawyers at Ginsberg & O’Connor have secured damages for medical care, lasting injury, and the pain and suffering clients endured at a facility whose mission is to attend to their health and well-being.
Call our Cherry Hill Township law office toll-free at 856-727-1991, or contact us online today to schedule a free initial consultation.