As an older person’s health declines, many families in New Mexico are unable to meet their ongoing health care needs. As such, they put their faith into care providers at nursing home facilities. Unfortunately, if nursing home negligence occurs regarding the treatment of these vulnerable populations, the consequences can be fatal.
In fact, a lawsuit filed in another state alleges that a woman’s death was the result of such negligence. Court papers indicate that the 88-year-old woman was moved to the nursing home named as the defendant in the lawsuit after being hospitalized for a slow heart rate and weakness. She reportedly had no signs of pressure sores at the time of her admission to the nursing home.
However, her sons — the plaintiff’s in the case — alleged that a reddened area was discovered over her coccyx approximately two weeks later. Despite this discovery, the lawsuit claims that the nursing home failed to treat her for pressure ulcers even though she was considered high risk for developing them. Less than a month after her admission to the nursing home, she returned to the hospital before being placed in hospice care. She died approximately seven months later.
A representative for the nursing home expressed sadness over the woman’s death but claimed that the facility had yet to be notified of the lawsuit. Unfortunately, families often have to make difficult decisions that they think are in the best interests of their loved ones only for their conditions to worsen due to nursing home negligence and abuse. Often, filling a wrongful death lawsuit is one of the few options to hold those suspected of being responsible for harming these patients accountable for their actions. An attorney with experience with such cases can help these families determine the most appropriate course of action.