Bedsores

Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee

Bedsores, also called pressure sores and decubitus ulcers, are only caused by hospital negligence and nursing home neglect, are painful, and pose a serious health risk. Bedsores are caused by prolonged pressure on a bony part of the body with a thin covering of flesh. Poor circulation causes the skin and tissue underneath to break and turn red. Left untreated, the skin can break open and become infected. These sores often develop on the heels, elbows, tailbone and shoulder blades.

Preventable
Bedsores are common among the elderly who spend much of their time lying or sitting in the same position. But these sores are preventable by simple turning or repositioning residents often. For elderly who are not able to move on their own, a nurse or staff member should move the patient every two hours to prevent skin breakdown. Even if these sores do occur; if they are diagnosed early they are easily treatable.

However, if bedsores go undetected, they can lead to severe muscle and even bone destruction. In come cases, the sores have led to death. One elderly woman in a Pennsylvania nursing home suffered a bedsore that became so deep it punctured her internal organs, causing her bowel to drain from her hip. The woman died as a result.

Bedsores often arise in patients with predisposing risk factors. Some of these include:

• Malnourished
• Require feeding assistance
• Underweight
• Limited movement or inability to reposition themselves
• Dry skin or incontinence
• Pre-existing health or mental conditions
• Age 75 and older

In patients with one or more of these factors, it is crucial to assess their susceptibility for acquiring bedsores and develop a prevention plan accordingly. The law requires nursing homes to implement programs to help protect patients against this condition. Nursing homes can be held liable for negligence if they do not turn their patients on a routine basis, bathe them on regularly, or fail to properly treat bedsores if they do arise.

If you or a loved one has developed bedsores that may have resulted from hospital or nursing home negligence, contact the nursing home abuse attorneys at Burke, Harvey & Frankowski today. Serving Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia, our qualified lawyers can answer your questions and help you recover damages. Call or e-mail us today for free case evaluation.

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