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Albany Bedsore Lawyer
The Albany bedsore lawyers at Bailey, Johnson & Peck, P.C. are dedicated to representing nursing home residents and hospital patients who develop bedsores due to medical negligence. Bedsores, or pressure ulcers, are often a clear sign of nursing home or hospital neglect. If your loved one has suffered from developing pressure ulcers, seek legal advice from an experienced bedsore attorney in Albany, New York. Our law firm offers a free consultation and works on a contingency fee basis, so elderly patients and their families won’t owe any legal fees unless their bedsore lawsuit is successful.
If you’re ready to seek legal advice from a trusted Albany pressure ulcer lawyer, call our law firm at 518-456-0082 or contact us online for a free consultation and explore the possibility of a bedsore lawsuit.
Risk Factors for Pressure Ulcers
Developing bedsores or pressure ulcers is a significant risk for elderly patients, particularly those in nursing homes. Nursing home residents or elderly patients often develop bedsores or decubitus ulcers due to prolonged pressure that causes restricted blood flow to the affected area, such as the buttocks, shoulder blades, and legs. The lack of blood flow leads to skin damage and preventable bedsores that will worsen quickly if the nursing home or hospital staff doesn’t provide proper treatment in a timely manner.
Understanding the risk factors for nursing home residents or hospital patients developing bed sores is important for pressure ulcer prevention. Other risk factors, such as limited mobility, peripheral vascular disease, lack of proper nutrition, and poor sensory perception increase the chances that bedsores develop.
Limited mobility: A patient who cannot move or has limited mobility is at a higher risk of developing bedsores when not provided with proper care.
Inadequate nutrition: When patients and residents aren’t provided proper nutrition, they’re more at risk for developing bed sores. Proper nutrition is necessary for immune systems, and inadequate nutrition further limits those with compromised immune systems, increasing the risk of developing pressure sores.
Peripheral vascular disease: can also increase the risk of bed sores due to existing blood flow issues.
Hospitals and nursing homes should take reasonable precautions to prevent bedsores, especially for patients with the other risk factors listed above. Bed sores are serious injuries that cause significant pain and can lead to squamous cell carcinoma or sepsis if a healthcare professional does not adequately relieve pressure and provide adequate medical treatment.
Family members whose loved ones suffer due to inadequate pressure ulcer prevention or mitigation can file bedsore lawsuits against negligent medical facilities, including nursing homes, for medical expenses, fees to move them to a new nursing home facility (if applicable), and other expenses related to the nursing home abuse or medical negligence.
Contact an experienced Albany bedsore lawyer at our law firm to learn more.
Common Causes of Pressure Sores in New York
Bed sores or pressure sores can develop when prolonged pressure in a nursing home or hospital causes blood flow to be restricted long enough for the affected area to break down. Victims of nursing home abuse and nursing home neglect or medical negligence in a medical facility or assisted living facility who developed bedsores often suffer from poor nutrition and are left in the same position for more than four hours at a time, over and over.
If your loved one is developing bedsores, especially in areas like the hips or shoulder blades, they’re likely suffering from other forms of elder abuse. If your loved one is developing pressure sores due to inadequate care in a hospital or nursing home facility, an Albany bedsore lawyer from Bailey, Johnson & Peck, P.C. can help you seek justice and financial compensation through a bedsore lawsuit.
Kennedy Ulcer vs Pressure Ulcer
Kennedy ulcers and pressure ulcers can both occur in older patients in hospitals and nursing homes.
Bedsores develop gradually in hospital patients or nursing home residents because of prolonged pressure, which restricts blood flow and leads to a large open wound. These pressure injuries are completely preventable when staff in hospitals or nursing homes reposition bedridden patients or patients with limited mobility to relieve pressure.
Alternatively, Kennedy ulcers always appear quickly, within a couple of hours to a few days maximum, and are linked to hospital or nursing home patients’ final life stages.
To avoid a medical negligence or nursing home abuse lawsuit, staff may tell the family that their loved one had terminal Kennedy ulcers, knowing the patient had preventable bedsores due to a lack of proper care within their medical facility.
If your loved one died, and you believe the “Kennedy ulcer” was really a pressure sore, call our Albany bedsore lawyers for a free initial consultation. Our Albany wrongful death lawyer group has experience handling bed sore cases where medical professionals in hospitals and nursing homes were not truthful about the medical treatment provided within the medical facility.
Pressure Ulcer Staging
Pressure sores or bed sores are serious injuries that can occur for bedridden patients or those with limited mobility when they aren’t repositioned and are subject to prolonged pressure on bony areas of the body, like the heels, hips, or shoulder blades.
Alongside the stages of bed sores, there are also unstageable bed sores, where medical professionals can’t determine the extent of damage because of severe complications or dead tissue.
Understanding how these wounds develop and their different stages is key to avoiding preventable bedsores and ensuring proper care for elderly loved ones. These stages aren’t just for those developing bedsores in nursing homes or hospitals; they are used in healthcare research and terminology universally.
Contact an Albany personal injury attorney to learn more.
Stage 1 Pressure Ulcer
In Stage 1, a pressure sore begins as a persistent red area on the skin that doesn’t fade after relieving pressure. It often affects people with limited mobility, as constant pressure cuts off blood flow to the skin. The affected area may feel warm and might be painful or itchy.
Stage 2 Pressure Ulcer
At Stage 2, the bed sore becomes an open wound. The skin breaks open, which forms a shallow sore or crater. Stage 2 pressure injuries involve damage to both the outer and underlying layers of skin, exposing tissue and leading to significant pain. Stage 2 bed sores need to be treated properly and immediately to prevent serious infections.
Stage 3 Pressure Ulcer
A Stage 3 bed sore is a more serious pressure ulcer that extends into the fat layer beneath the skin. The wound looks like a crater and may show signs of dead tissue. Patients developing bedsores at the stage 3 level have been left unmoved for extended periods, have not received adequate medical treatment, and show obvious signs of serious infection, such as pus draining. This means that stage 3 bedsores are not mild complications but rather forms of gross malpractice or nursing home neglect.
If your loved one has bed sores that have reached stage 3, seek legal counsel from our Albany bedsore lawyers immediately. Our medical malpractice lawyers in Albany have extensive experience with pressure sore lawsuits and can help your family secure compensation for more acceptable medical treatment.
Stage 4 Pressure Ulcer
Stage 4 bedsores are signs of extreme medical facility or nursing home neglect. It takes a level of gross negligence to develop pressure sores at this level. A patient who has developed a stage 4 bedsore injury has serious symptoms, such exposed muscles, tendons, and bones, as well as draining pus, which indicates clearly the patient has had consistent pressure and has not received adequate medical treatment for extended periods.
In hospitals and nursing homes, stage 4 bed sore injuries require significant and repeated lapses in healthcare to not only prevent bedsores, but in allowing the injuries to progress significantly. This level of nursing home neglect or hospital malpractice is unacceptable and can constitute grounds for punitive damages in a bedsore lawsuit.
If your loved one is a medical patient or nursing home resident who developed stage 4 pressure sore injuries or is at risk, contact an Albany bedsore lawyer immediately. Stage 4 injuries put patients at serious risk of bone infection and sepsis.
Our hospital negligence and nursing home abuse lawyers in Albany will help ensure your family member is treated by a skilled physician with experience in advanced sore injuries, and then our Albany bedsore lawyer team will help you understand your legal rights to pursue a bedsore lawsuit for nursing home or hospital malpractice.
Stage 4 Bedsore Life Expectancy
When someone has developed bed sores at this advanced stage, their health can decline rapidly due to life-threatening infections and other complications. When nursing homes or hospitals allow a serious pressure ulcer to develop to the stage 4 level, it indicates severe hospital negligence or nursing home abuse. Our Albany bedsore lawyer group can help you seek justice.
Unstageable Pressure Ulcer
An unstageable pressure ulcer means the full depth of the wound is unknown because it’s covered by dead tissue. Unstageable sores require careful cleaning and removal of the dead tissue to assess and treat the affected area properly.
If your family member developed unstageable bedsores, our Albany pressure ulcer lawyer group can help your family understand the legal rights to a bedsore lawsuit. Our bedsore lawyers have extensive experience helping families file bed sore lawsuits against the nursing home or hospital responsible in order to obtain financial compensation.
Nursing Home Bedsore Lawyer Albany, NY
A nursing home bedsore lawyer in Albany, NY, can be an important ally if your loved one is developing bed sores due to patient neglect. When a healthcare professional or assisted living facility staff fails to provide proper treatment, it can lead to serious health issues like painful pressure ulcers.
At Bailey, Johnson & Peck, P.C.our experienced Albany bedsore lawyers can help you file a bed sore lawsuit to hold negligent parties accountable and ensure your loved one receives the care they deserve.
Prevention of Pressure Ulcers in Nursing Home Residents
Preventing pressure ulcers in nursing home residents is all about proper care and attention. When a nursing home facility fails to regularly move or reposition a nursing home resident, they can start developing pressure sores from staying in one spot too long.
Unfortunately, nursing home abuse or neglect is typically the sole reason for patients developing pressure ulcers. If the nursing home or assisted care facility failed to prevent bedsores and your loved one suffered, contact an experienced Albany bedsore lawyer.
Lawsuit for Hospital-Acquired Decubitus Ulcers in Albany, New York
If you or a loved one developed bedsores due to patient neglect, you may be able to file a bedsore lawsuit to seek compensation.
Hospital-acquired bedsores are often preventable but can develop as a result of medical negligence like inadequate patient care or elder abuse. These pressure injuries can lead to serious health complications and increased medical expenses.
An Albany bedsore attorney can help you hold the healthcare facility accountable for their neglect and recover the compensation you deserve. If you are dealing with the consequences of preventable bedsores, it’s important to consult a skilled bedsore lawyer in Albany to discuss your legal options.
How an Albany Pressure Ulcer Lawyer Can Help
When you or a loved one has developed bedsores due to medical negligence, an Albany pressure ulcer lawyer can help you take legal action. Unfortunately, many nursing home or hospital patients are neglected by caregivers and left in the same position for long periods of time, making it difficult to prevent them from developing pressure ulcers.
Bedsores can lead to serious complications, and the resulting medical bills can quickly add up. Filing a bed sore lawsuit for negligent medical treatment can help you recover compensation for these costs and hold the responsible parties accountable.
At Bailey, Johnson & Peck, one of our experienced Albany bedsore lawyers will guide you through the legal process, ensuring you get the justice and financial support you deserve.
Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations New York
In New York, the statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice claim is generally 2.5 years from the date of the negligent act or date of when the injury was discovered. If you or a loved one has been harmed due to medical negligence or nursing home neglect, it’s important to act quickly to protect your rights.
Consulting with Albany bedsore lawyers with experience in hospital or nursing home medical negligence cases can help ensure your claim is filed within the proper timeframe, allowing you to seek justice and compensation for injuries.
New York Bedsore Injuries FAQ
If you or a loved one has developed bedsores due to medical negligence in a hospital or nursing home, you likely have many questions about these serious injuries and the potential legal options available. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding bed sores and the complications they can cause.
For more information, contact an experienced Albany pressure ulcer attorney at Bailey, Johnson & Peck, P.C. Our Albany bedsore lawyers can help you determine if your case involves patient neglect and pursue legal action against responsible medical facilities.
What Do Bed Sores Look Like?
Bed sores typically start as red, irritated areas on the skin, which may feel warm or swollen. As they progress, they can turn into open wounds, exposing deeper layers of tissue, and in severe cases, they may reach muscle or bone.
Are Bedsores Considered Medical Malpractice in New York?
Yes, bedsores can be considered medical malpractice in New York if they result from inadequate care or medical negligence. Bed sore lawsuits are often filed when a medical facility or nursing home neglects a patient’s needs, resulting in preventable injuries.
How to Prevent Bed Sores on a Bedridden Patient?
Pressure ulcer prevention involves frequent repositioning to relieve pressure on vulnerable areas of the body, like the heels, hips, and shoulder blades. To prevent bedsores or pressure injuries, caregivers should regularly change the patient’s position, use specialized cushions or mattresses, and ensure good hygiene.
Where to Report Nursing Home Neglect in New York?
If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, you can submit a nursing home complaint form to the New York State Department of Health. Reports of elder abuse involving nursing home residents can also be made to The Bureau of Adult Protective Services.
How Does Poor Nutrition Cause Pressure Ulcers?
Without proper nutrition, a person’s body is less able to repair damaged skin and maintain healthy tissue. This increases the likelihood that a bedridden patient will develop bedsores. Adequate intake of protein, vitamins, and minerals is essential for keeping skin healthy and preventing pressure ulcers from forming.
How Long Does it Take for a Bed Sore to Form?
Developing bedsores can happen quickly, sometimes within hours, especially if a patient is immobile. When blood flow to the skin is cut off due to prolonged pressure, such as in nursing homes where patients may not be regularly repositioned, bedsores can form and worsen rapidly if left untreated.
How Much is a Bedsore Lawsuit Worth in New York?
The value of bedsore lawsuits in New York is determined by the severity of the pressure injuries, the associated medical costs, and how the injuries have impacted the patient’s life. In cases where medical negligence led to long-term complications, such as squamous cell carcinoma from untreated bedsores, the potential compensation can be substantial.
Albany Bedsore Attorney
At Bailey, Johnson & Peck, you can trust that our experienced Albany bedsore lawyers will help you take legal action if your loved one isn’t getting the care they need in a nursing home or hospital. Older patients in hospitals and nursing home patients who have developed bed sores are at risk of sepsis or further abuse. Our law firm is here to ensure your family members are treated properly and get the justice they deserve.
Call 518-456-0082 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with an Albany bedsore attorney today.
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