A jury awarded $10.3 million to a man who developed bed sores after being neglected by hospital staff at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center. The victim was cognitively impaired after undergoing surgery in the 1980s to remove a brain tumor. He was dependent on the care of the staff at the medical center and they apparently failed to do provide basic care.
The victim developed serious bed sores on his heels because the hospital failed to follow its system of screening for and protecting against pressure ulcers, according to santafenewmexican.com. Reports indicate Gonzales should have received a special type of mattress and boots to guard against the development of bed sores.
The victim’s lawyer described what happened saying, “Shift after shift, they didn’t do what they were supposed to do. After they knew he had a problem, they charted saying there was no problem. It was haphazard and reckless, like they weren’t really doing the stuff; they were just writing it down. A lot of it had to do with the fact that he couldn’t communicate well.”
Nursing home abuse and medical center negligence are serious problems and if you suspect a loved one is being neglected at a medical facility, contact a lawyer right away to discuss your legal options. Many nursing home neglect cases go unreported because loved ones do not act on their concerns. Speak to a lawyer and see what can be done. As the case above illustrates, medical centers are not immune from simply ignoring a patient and letting serious, debilitating conditions develop.
PA