Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, residents place their loved ones in nursing homes in hopes that they will receive appropriate care during the twilight of their lives. Although it may seem costly to some, it is a good way to assure that loved ones live out their remaining years in comfort and with dignity. However, a recent nursing home death has raised concerns across the country and questions about how caring nursing home personnel really are.
Six senior nursing home employees and managers were indicted by a grand jury for negligence and will face charges in the death of a 72-year-old female patient. In all, the employees are facing 46 counts of negligence. The patient died nearly two years ago after employees allegedly failed to attach her to a ventilator. The patient’s doctors already had ordered for ventilator usage. The six employees were previously arrested for similar charges last February.
Nursing home abuse is not only appalling, it is also not uncommon. Abuse can be physical, where a nursing home patient is subjected to physical maltreatment, or emotional, where a patient is tortured through intentional neglect, insults, taunts and bullying tactics. An elderly patient also can be sexually abused. A Pittsburgh resident who suspects that a loved one is being abused in a nursing home should act immediately to help stop any form of abuse.
However, if abuse results in the death of a nursing home resident, it may be best for a Pittsburgh resident to consider filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Although legal action will not bring a loved one back, it can help ensure that a negligent party is held legally responsible. It can also lead to monetary awards to help a family cope with medical costs, funeral expenses and the pain and suffering of losing a loved one.
Source: CBS New York, “Grand Jury Indicts L.I. Nursing Home Employees In Connection With Patient’s Death,” May 31, 2014