Bed Sores and Nursing Home Neglect Case Study

Key Takeaways:

  • Severe Progression: This case demonstrates how systemic immobility and a failure to routinely rotate a vulnerable patient can cause preventable stage 4 pressure ulcers to develop.
  • Extreme Medical Outcomes: Untreated bed sores carry severe life-threatening infection risks that can lead to catastrophic medical results, including bilateral amputation.
  • Legal Accountability: When a nursing facility staff ignores visible suffering and hides a resident’s cries for help, it constitutes actionable nursing home neglect.

Our client suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and resided in the largest nursing home in Central Florida. Although his condition was good for several years, he began to suffer a decline in his condition. Unfortunately, this meant he could no longer provide the basic care he needed, and he became dependent upon staff. Despite his immobility and increased risk for pressure ulcer development, staff ignored his needs and left him lying in bed in one position.

Not surprisingly, he developed massive pressure ulcers (also called bed sores) that became infected and threatened his life. The sores were so painful that nursing assistants testified he often cried out in pain. However, rather than administer pain medications as ordered by his doctors, staff closed his door so they did not have to hear his cries for help.

As a result of the nursing home staff’s abuse and neglect, our client had both legs amputated before he died from infection.

Our Orlando nursing home attorneys at Warner & Warner in Casselberry, Florida, are committed to providing clients like this with the absolute highest level of representation so they can get the justice they deserve. All of us strive to make the world a better place by exposing inadequate and injurious medical care. If a loved one has suffered severe neglect, consulting with experienced Orlando pressure ulcer lawyers can ensure your family holds the facility accountable. 

About The Author

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Debbie Warner

Debbie Warner is a managing partner at Warner & Warner, specializing in complex personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and nursing home negligence/neglect cases. She is a top-rated trial lawyer known for ethical and aggressive representation and compassionate approach to clients. Debbie received her law degree from Florida State University College of Law in 1998 and has since obtained numerous verdicts and settlements of over a million dollars. Debbie is a member of the American Justice Association, Florida Justice Association, Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association, Orange County Bar Association, Seminole County Bar Association, and the Seminole County Inns of Court, and Seminole County Florida Association for Women Lawyers.

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