Can You Sue A Nursing Home In Pennsylvania For The Death Of Your Loved One?
Like many individuals in Pennsylvania, you may have put your elderly loved one into a nursing home (or an “assisted-living facility”). These establishments are supposed to provide excellent care for seniors, especially those who are unable to live on their own. You may have made the decision to hand over your elderly loved ones to one of these facilities after their medical conditions worsened. For example, your senior might have developed dementia, and they may require round-the-clock care and supervision.
But what happens when these nursing homes fail to provide the care they promise? What happens when medical professionals neglect, abuse, or even assault your loved one? What happens when this negligence and misconduct leads to your senior’s premature passing? If you are dealing with this type of situation, it might be time to get in touch with an experienced, qualified personal injury attorney in Pennsylvania. These legal professionals can help you file a lawsuit against negligent parties and pursue justice.
Understanding the Terminology Behind Nursing Home Lawsuits
If you want to sue a nursing home for the death of your loved one, there are a few important terms you should be aware of. Firstly, you will be filing a “wrongful death lawsuit” if you are suing a nursing home on behalf of your deceased loved one. This is basically the same as any other personal injury lawsuit, but the damages are slightly different. For example, you can recover compensation for funeral expenses with this type of lawsuit.
The second important term is “medical malpractice.” Since these facilities employ medical professionals and provide medical services, they can be held accountable for serious and gross negligence that leads to deaths. In this lawsuit, you are suing doctors and nurses for failing in their duty of care.
How Might a Nurse “Accidentally” Kill Your Loved One?
Although an elderly individual may pass away from a number of different causes while staying at a nursing home, there are a few common ways in which a nurse can accidentally kill your loved one:
- Administering the wrong medicine
- Administering the wrong dosage of medicine
- Allowing seniors to fall
- False diagnoses that lead to unnecessary treatments
- Administering the wrong blood type
- Allowing germs to spread
- Neglecting a patient who is obviously suffering
Note that in some rare cases, a medical professional’s negligence may not be an accident at all. In this situation, they could potentially face criminal charges, such as manslaughter or even murder.
Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today
For help from a skilled Scranton personal injury attorney, reach out to the Needle Law Firm. We know how crushing it can be to lose a loved one, and this feeling can be even more devastating if you believe the cause of death was not natural. If a nursing home was responsible for your loved one’s passing, you have every right to hold them accountable by filing a lawsuit. Reach out today, and we can help you go over your legal options.
