One man is seeking justice on his brother’s behalf by filing a lawsuit against the nursing home his brother lived in at the time of his death.

Man Alleges Brother Died Due To Lack Of Care In Nursing Home

On February 12th, 2015, a man named Isaac was moved into the Mount Pleasant Manor nursing home. In less than a year, he would die. Now his brother alleges his death occurred much sooner than it should have because of the neglect he experienced at the nursing home.

According to the lawsuit, which is just one of many filed against the facility alleging wrongful death and medical malpractice, the resident was the victim of ongoing neglect. His brother claims that because he was denied “basic custodial care”, he developed severe bedsores and infection.

Not only were these skin ulcers extremely painful, but the resulting infection caused a delay in his treatment for pineoblastoma.

Pineoblastoma is a tumor that occurs on the pineal gland in the brain. Treatments typically include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy – all of which can be delayed if an infection develops. Sadly, skin ulcers are easily prevented with proper care, care that the plaintiff’s brother alleges he did not receive.

In the legal complaint, the plaintiff stated that his brother died because of  “injuries related to the Defendants’ negligence.”

Nursing Home Has A Disturbing History Of Complaints

When a public search is performed, records from the Department of Health and Environmental Control shows that Mount Pleasant Manor has 17 formal complaints listed against it in the past five years. This makes it fifth in the county for formal complaints. Additionally, Medicare only gives the facility one out of five stars, ratings given for overall quality and health inspections.

Medicare has also issued 13 health citations, more than double the average.

Why Does Neglect Occur So Frequently In Nursing Homes?

Typically, there is one major reason why nursing home neglect occurs: understaffing.

When a facility is understaffed, employees can only spend a short amount of time with each resident. This means that hygiene isn’t taken care of, staff don’t help residents eat their meals, and medical problems aren’t addressed.

To make matters worse, many nursing homes fail to do the necessary background checks on their employees and end up hiring those who are unqualified or who have a criminal background.

Can I Sue If My Loved One Was Neglect Or Abused In A Nursing Home?

Yes, if your loved one is unable to take legal action on their own or if they have died as a result of the neglect and abuse they suffered, you may be able to file a nursing home or wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf.

What Can Be Gained From Suing A Nursing Home?

Lawsuits that are filed against a nursing home are pursued so that the plaintiff can recover compensation. This compensation can pay for things like medical bills, lost wages, physical pain, emotional trauma, funeral and burial expenses, and more.

Lawsuits can also send a message to nursing homes – take proper care of patients or pay the price.

How Do I Know If My Loved One Is Being Neglected?

There are common signs of neglect and abuse that everyone should know so that loved ones can be protected. These signs include:

• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Bed Sores
• Infections
• Bruising
• Confusion
• Sudden Fear

Many nursing home residents are unable to tell anyone about their abuse and if they are physically capable of doing so, their abusers typically threaten them and scare them into remaining silent.

If you suspect neglect or abuse, contact an attorney as quickly as possible.

Our attorneys can review your case and make sure that neglect and abuse stops. Then, together, we can fight for justice.