Understanding a Pressure Sore Death in Oregon, Explained by Our Portland Nursing Home Lawyer
Placing a loved one in a nursing home is a difficult decision. But sometimes we have to do this to afford our loved ones the care, treatment, and supervision that they need but we can no longer give at home. This is why we trust nursing homes and their staff members to care for our loved ones by performing these tasks. Most of the time, these tasks are completed competently and our loved ones often do better in a nursing homes or assisted living facility than at home. While there are many benefits to this, there are also some severe problems that could occur. This includes pressure sores. When there is a pressure sore death in Oregon at a nursing homes, rehabilitation center, or assisted living facility, ask our Portland nursing home lawyer for help.
This is because a pressure sore is usually declared to be a never event at a facility such as a nursing home, hospital, assisted living facility, rehabilitation center, or other homes or facility. That means that when a pressure sore occurs, it is likely due to the careless, reckless, or negligent conduct of a healthcare provider, staff member, or other nursing home official. Thus, when a pressure sore occurs, it is likely that a resident has been seriously injured due to preventable conduct.
What is a Pressure Sore?
A pressure sore is a very painful and potentially deadly skin and tissue condition. It is also known as a pressure ulcer, bedsore, or other type of skin ulcer. It is caused by constant pressure, friction, and resistance on the skin in the same area for a prolonged period of time. This can cause the skin to breakdown and suffer injury. It can also cause the tissue under the skin to breakdown and begin to actually rot known as necrotic tissue. This can result in a serious infection which could become septic. That could result in septic shock and cause a life-threatening emergency.
There are four stages of pressure sores, which include the following:
- Stage One – damage to outer layer with burning and pain, some redness
- Stage Two – damage to inner layer of skin causing bleeding, swelling, and blisters
- Stage Three – damage into the fatty layer which causes bleeding, oozing, puss, tissue death, rotting and necrotic conditions, and a high likelihood of infection leading to sepsis. This is life threatening.
- Stage Four – damage extending into the muscle and bone layer which causes bleeding and oozing, but also damage to all structures including muscles, tendons, bones, nerves, blood vessels, and other structures. Infections are almost guaranteed and sepsis is very likely. This is a medical emergency.
Causes of a Pressure Sore in a Nursing Home in Oregon
There are many causes of pressure sores in a nursing home or assisted living facility. Many times that a pressure sore occurs means that there has been a breakdown in treatment, care, and attention to residents. Some of the most common causes of pressure sores which could be elder abuse or nursing home abuse include the following:
- Failing to use the property beds and padding
- Failure to get residents up and walking
- Failing to rotate residents in a bed or wheelchair
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Failure to give medication
- Failing to change sheets and bedding
- Failing to keep residents in good hygiene
- Neglecting residents who are bed bound or wheelchair bound
- Failing to check residents for injuries
- Not guarding against pressure sores, and
- Many other common causes.
When a Pressure Sore Death in Oregon Occurs at a Nursing Home, Ask Our Portland Nursing Home Lawyer for Help
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect contact the Oregon Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take Nursing Home Abuse cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
