Our attorneys recently represented the family of a woman whose existing pressure wound became severely infected due to neglect during a brief stay at a skilled nursing facility. She later died from septic shock. The nursing home bedsore case illustrates the consequences that can arise when staff fail to provide appropriate care for pressure injuries.
A Rapid Decline During a Brief Nursing Home Stay
Our client’s mother entered a skilled nursing facility in Fresno County after COVID-19 pneumonia increased her care needs. When she arrived at the facility, the woman already had a pressure sore injury near her tailbone.
During her stay, the staff documented that the wound was enlarging and began showing signs of infection. After 16 days at the facility, the woman was transferred to the hospital. Doctors identified a stage 4 pressure ulcer with necrotizing fasciitis.
The day after her hospital admission, surgeons determined that removing the infected tissue would require extensive surgery, which she was very unlikely to survive. She died approximately two weeks after hospitalization. The hospital identified her cause of death as septic shock resulting from the infected pressure wound.
The Preventable Care Failures Behind the Case
In this case, we successfully challenged the assertion that the nursing home resident’s death was an inevitable outcome of her age or existing condition. We argued that staff members’ failure to provide the level of care she required directly caused the woman’s untimely death.
During our independent investigation, our attorneys identified repeated failures to follow the resident’s care plan. The records showed that the staff had missed approximately 30% of ordered wound infection checks and 25% of scheduled repositionings.
The woman experienced frequent diarrhea, but staff failed to include measures in her care plan to prevent fecal contamination of the wound. She lost approximately eight pounds during her short time at the facility, and inadequate nutrition and hydration likely reduced the chances of her wound healing.
Additionally, staff failed to report several dangerously low blood pressure readings to the physician. The facility also delayed hospitalization despite her worsening wound and increasing weakness, both of which indicated that she needed a higher level of care.
We demanded compensation for wrongful death, violations of the resident’s rights under the California Elder Abuse Act, and more. We ultimately secured a fair settlement for her family.
We’re Committed to Holding Nursing Homes Accountable for Preventable Bedsore Injuries
Nursing home residents have the right to safe, competent care, and their families deserve peace of mind that the facility they trusted will meet their loved one’s needs. When a facility fails to provide appropriate care, it must be held accountable for the resulting harm.
At Lanzone Morgan, LLP, fighting for elder abuse and neglect victims is all we do. With over 75 years of combined experience, our attorneys have earned a proven track record of standing up to nursing homes across California after preventable care failures cause injury or death.
Many of the cases we take on involve a nursing home’s failure to prevent or respond appropriately to pressure injuries. If you are concerned that your loved one has suffered this type of neglect in a nursing home, we are ready to listen to your concerns and help you determine if you have a strong bedsore case.
Contact us online or call 888-887-9777 for a free consultation with a Fresno bedsore lawyer today.