How Nursing Homes Cover Up Abuse
Nursing home abuse is inexcusable, but it is also more common than many people realize. Although some facilities genuinely care for their residents, there are others that are more concerned about their profits and bottom line than they are the safety and well-being of their patients. Some nursing homes do not properly hire or train staff members, while others do not hire an adequate amount of staff to provide sufficient care. When this is the case, residents become seriously hurt.
Nursing home administrators and staff members can be held liable for nursing home abuse through a civil action. However, to shield themselves from liability and paying full damages to victims, nursing homes use a number of tactics to cover up neglect and abuse. Below, our Tampa nursing home abuse attorney explains what these are.
Blaming Residents
The most common tactic in nursing home abuse cases is for staff members to blame the resident. They may argue that a resident fell while they were trying to get out of bed, or when they were walking to the bathroom. If it is quite evident that abuse occurred, nursing homes may blame other residents for injuries. In some cases, nursing homes may even state that the injury was pre-existing and the resident had it at the time of admission.
Falsifying a Resident’s Chart
Abuse and neglect in nursing homes is often covered up by falsifying the medical charts of residents. A staff member may not mention injuries or other problems in a patient’s chart, and they may include language that everything with the patient is fine and normal. Even when doctors and nurses are honest in residents’ charts, an administrator may delete the entry or the page that indicates abuse or neglect occurred.
Threatening Patients
Nursing home abuse and neglect is largely unreported, and this is especially true when nursing home staff members threaten patients. Staff members may threaten residents that if they report the abuse or neglect, their family members will not be permitted to visit. Or, they may threaten a resident who is hurt with additional injuries if they report the original abuse or neglect.
Our Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Tampa Can Determine if Your Loved One is a Victim
It is not always easy to identify when nursing home abuse has occurred, particularly when these facilities try to hide it. If you believe your loved one has been a victim, our Tampa nursing home abuse attorney at Kohn Law can investigate the matter and determine if abuse or neglect occurred. Call us now at 813-428-8504 or contact us online to request a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html
