Nursing Home Misdiagnosis | Virginia Nursing Home Abuse Attorney | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

When a family has to make the decision to place an elderly loved one in a nursing home, it is often one of the most difficult to make. It is usually a highly emotional time for all involved, including the realization that their loved one is entering the final years of their life. There are often multiple medical issues the elderly family member has that forces this decision, requiring 24- hour medical care and assistance.

Families have every right to expect that the nursing home they place their loved one in will provide the highest quality of care. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and nursing home neglect and abuse are becoming more and more prevalent. One of the most common cases the legal team at Shapiro & Appleton handles centers around medical misdiagnosis by nursing homes and the dangerous impact it has on residents.

 

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An elderly resident is likely already dealing with serious medical, so when a new health condition arises that is misdiagnosed by nursing home staff, the results can lead to serious – if not fatal – health problems. A misdiagnosis can mean the resident suffers from confusion, memory loss, fever, infection, tremors, and pain. An incorrect diagnosis can also mean the patient is given the wrong medication, creating a dangerous situation and putting the resident’s life at risk. Not only does the medication not address the actual health issue the resident has, but it can actually cause their health to quickly deteriorate.  

Some of the most common misdiagnosed conditions in nursing homes include:

  • Dehydration
  • Delirium
  • Essential tremor
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Urinary tract infections (UTI)

These conditions are often misdiagnosed as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. The resident is then given powerful drugs to treat conditions that they do not even have.

Although there are some cases where a misdiagnosis cannot be avoided, there are many cases where the misdiagnosis occurs because the nursing home staff was negligent. The failure to diagnosis correctly – and the elderly residents suffering – were completely unnecessary had the staff done their job. The victim and their family are entitled to financial compensation under the law when this type of negligence occurs.

Contact a Virginia Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today

The legal team at Shapiro & Appleton understand how difficult the decision to place a loved one in a nursing home can be. We also understand how horrifying it can be to find out the people you place your complete trust in to care for your loved one failed to do their job and your family member has suffered injury and pain because of that failure.

If this has happened to your family, it is time to hold the nursing home accountable. Call our office today to meet with one of our dedicated Virginia nursing home abuse attorneys to find out what legal recourse you and your family may have. We will work diligently to make sure your family gets the financial justice you deserve.