We place our loved ones in nursing homes to help them live safer, more dignified lives.
This is because we may not be able to provide our loved ones with the level of care necessary to treat their conditions or to ensure their safety on a day-to-day basis.
Sadly, most of us that place a loved one in a nursing home know that our loved one will likely pass away in that facility.
Most times the cause of death is expected, usually due to the medical conditions or vulnerabilities that caused us to place our loved one in the nursing facility in the first place.
However, there are unfortunately circumstances where a loved one’s death in a nursing home cannot be explained.
This is either because the nursing home refuses to provide us with the details or admit the truth, or because the nursing home genuinely does not know what happened.
If you loved a loved one in a nursing home and need answers what happened, ask our Oregon
unexplained death lawyers for a free consultation.
We cannot guarantee that we will get you an answer, but we can guarantee your loved one’s case will be handled with dignity and respect.
We will hear what facts you already know and, if we accept your case, conduct an investigation into what occurred at the facility.
This may include hiring experts to review your loved one’s file, medical chart, and to inspect the facility.
We may also use law enforcement to assess and determine what occurred, including using information gained by law enforcement or federal agencies if there was an investigation in to the wrongful death of your loved one.
Unexplained deaths in nursing homes do not simply happen when there is the proper level of care, treatment, and supervision present that nursing homes are obliged to provide under Oregon law.
When Unexplained Deaths are Really Wrongful Deaths
When a nursing home resident has an
unexplained death, it may have been a wrongful death if the resident’s death was caused by the intentional or negligent acts or omissions of another person or business.
This means that another person or entity’s wrongful acts contributed or caused the wrongful death of an innocent person.
This could be due to physical abuse or neglecting medical care.
Families who have lost a loved one due to a wrongful death may be entitled to “damages.”
Under Oregon law, “damages” are compensatory in nature because the law acknowledges that a victim cannot be brought back.
Thus, families may be entitled to compensation for the following:
- Pain and suffering of the resident, including pre-impact terror;
- Burial costs;
- Funeral expenses;
- Loss of affection and society with other loved ones;
- Medical bills and costs associated with the injuries resulting in the wrongful death; and
- Many other damages related to the wrongful death caused by another.
Common Causes of Unexplained Deaths in Nursing Homes
There are many possible and common causes of unexplained deaths in Oregon nursing homes.
Most times the “
unexplained deaths” are really a nursing home not providing information to loved ones.
This effort to hide information about a potential nursing home malpractice or negligence case is important for loved ones to protect the rights of their loved ones.
Some of the most common causes of unexplained deaths in nursing homes include the following:
- Negligent supervision, including wandering and eloping residents;
- Physical abuse, by staff, other residents, guests, contractors, or other individuals on the premises of the nursing facility;
- Neglect by staff, including leaving residents alone, in bathtubs, outside, and in other vulnerable places;
- Failing to monitor residents who are smoking, walking outside, or engaging in other risk behaviors;
- Pressure sores and bedsores that are left untreated;
- Failing to give medications to residents;
- Resident mixups with treatment or medications;
- Neglecting to monitor resident’s food and fluid intake and output;
- Sexual abuse;
- Excessive use of physical restraints;
- Improper tracheostomy care and clogged breathing tubes;
- Bedrails injuries;
- Resident on resident violence, generally due to inadequate supervision and understaffing;
- Nursing home falls with fall risk patients; and
- Many other common causes.
Bend/Portland, Oregon Unexplained Death Lawyers
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.
We handle cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, and Hillsboro.
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.
