A nursing home in New Mexico is responsible for making sure that all of its residents’ basic needs are met on a regular basis. When a resident does not receive the care he or she needs, this unfortunately can lead to the individual’s death. This is what allegedly occurred in one out-of-state case, leading a family to file a nursing home neglect suit against the facility that cared for their loved one.
According to the lawsuit, a woman was placed in a nursing home in 2012. However, she ended up dying in July 2013. The family said the death was reportedly due to complications stemming from dehydration, neglect, and abuse while she was under the care of the nursing facility.
The family said the facility was negligent in that it failed to provide the elderly woman with life essentials such as food and water. The facility is also blamed for not providing her with a toilet. The plaintiff is seeking an unspecified amount in punitive damages as well as litigation costs and attorney fees as part of the legal suit.
When nursing home neglect occurs, this leaves the vulnerable elderly population at risk of developing serious injuries and even death due to the lack of proper care. If a family’s loved one ends up dying due to nursing workers’ carelessness on the job, the family members have the right to file a liability claim against the facility, seeking monetary damages. They may pursue compensatory damages as well as punitive damages in cases of egregious fault. Claims for financial damages will be adjudicated by the court only if liability is established to its satisfaction in New Mexico.
Source: wvrecord.com, “Family sues Heartland of Beckley, alleging wrongful death“, Angelino Menconi, Oct. 27, 2015