This is the story of a ninety-two-year old man who went to a skilled nursing facility after a hospital stay for shortness of breath. He died several days later from pressure ulcers on his heels that led to leg amputations and a raging bone infection.
Apparently nursing home staff had not repositioned him often enough. Court depositions showed that the nursing home administrator and a representative of the facility's corporate offices had ordered a nurse to alter the medical records to show that the resident had arrived at the facility with "softened heels." But the nurse admitted she had not seen the patient when he was admitted and had "no memory of him ever having softened heels." The nurse said a corporate representative had told her "to falsify the medical records because the current records did not 'look good' and he was worried about a lawsuit." says Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Steven Peck.
Fraudulent charting is often the result of understaffing: "public documents reveal tales of chaotic shifts on which certified nurse assistants are scrambling to provide care." Since nursing staff is a facility's biggest cost, it's easy to see how fewer nurses makes good business sense, especially when doctoring the records appears so easy.
Although elderly residents are awarded certain nursing home rights, some facilities, either unknowingly or intentionally, may violate these basic rights. If you suspect your loved one is being abused in a nursing home or otherwise deprived of their nursing home resident rights, such as bed sores, dehydration, malnutrition, infection, under staffing, physical abuse, you should immediately contact us toll free at 1.866.999.9085 or on-line at www.thepecklawgroup.com for a free thorough case review and evaluation. This case review is being offered at no cost and shall help determine whether you should take legal action on behalf of your elder / dependent adult loved one. We Will Help You!!
