Anyone with a family member in a nursing home probably expects only the best level of care for their loved one. However, a recent article highlighted a different result in the Alzheimer’s wing of a nursing home in another state. The problems in this case have led the family members of a former resident of the nursing home to file a wrongful death lawsuit after their loved one died while under the nursing home’s watch.
According to the reports, the resident allegedly fell after a physical confrontation with another nursing home patient. As a result, she suffered from a “subdural hematoma,” which is a type of brain injury that requires immediate treatment. Specifically, this injury involves the pooling of blood between the brain and the skull. According to an autopsy report, the cause of the woman’s death was “failure to thrive” following this injury. The family’s lawsuit claims that nursing home neglect led to their relative’s premature death.
An independent investigation of the incident by a state agency resulted in the nursing home’s taking several corrective measures. However, in the course of this investigation, the assisted living facility did not go so far as to admit liability for either the fall or the patient’s death.
The good news for the families of New Jersey patients who suffer from nursing home neglect is that they can potentially receive a full and complete monetary recovery both for their economic losses, like medical bills, as well as for their emotional distress and pain and suffering. While these damages obviously cannot bring a loved one back, they can help bring a family reach closure to a difficult time in their lives.
Source: WISH TV, “Family of nursing home resident files wrongful death lawsuit,” March 5, 2013
