Bedsore in Nursing Home Lawsuit

Case Type: Nursing Home
Settlement: $ 275,000

Facts of the Case

This was a nursing home neglect case against a skilled nursing home in Michigan. The elderly resident suffered a Stage IV pressure ulcer within one month after admission to the facility. Records proved that she had no evidence of skin breakdown and no bed sores at the time she moved into the home.

The sores were discovered by a family member during a visit with the resident. Prior to that time, the nursing staff never notified the family of the terrible decubitus ulcers. Once discovered, the resident was sent to a wound care specialist for treatment. By this time, the injuries were so severe that multiple surgeries were required for the conditions.

Types of Injuries and Harm Suffered

• Stage IV bedsore
• Infection and sepsis
• Skin flap surgeries and colostomy surgery

Legal Issues in the Case

• Was the nursing staff negligent in its care of the resident?
• Was the pressure sore avoidable or unavoidable?
• Would proper care have prevented the bedsore?
• Was the facility liable for the resident’s injuries?

What We Did to Win the Settlement

We carefully reviewed the records to prove that the resident was not being turned or repositioned by the staff members on a regular interval during the day and throughout the night. We also proved that the staff was not doing routine inspections of the skin and was not bathing and cleaning the resident on a timely basis. We hired a nursing home expert and wound care expert to prove that the sore was preventable. We then negotiated a settlement with the opposing counsel.