Has a family member been injured in a nursing home?
Many families answer “yes” to that question. Injuries include bed sores, infections, bed, wheel chairs, or during transfers. Here are some ways in which the legal issues
choking on food, dehydration, incorrect medication, and fractured bones from falls from concerning a nursing home injury differ from those related to an injury sustained in an automobile collision.
- Connecticut law requires the nursing home to maintain detailed records concerning patient care. These records often provide important clues about what happened. This is particularly important if the family member has some degree of cognitive limitation that impairs observation or communication skills.
- Connecticut law requires the nursing home to file a report with the Connecticut Department of Public Health describing the injury, explaining how it happened, and outlining a course of action to prevent similar occurrences. This report also provides important clues about what happened.
- Connecticut law has established a “Patients’ Bill of Rights” applicable to patients in nursing homes. The provisions of the Patients’ Bill of Rights are helpful in establishing a standard of care that must be followed by a nursing home.
We successfully have represented the families of individuals who have been injured in nursing homes. In fact, one of our employees is a nurse with past experience working in a nursing home. We encourage you to contact us if a family member has been injured. You can access the Patients’ Bill of Rights and other information about nursing homes by visiting the Department of Public Health website at www.ct.gov/dph.