Medical Malpractice Lawyer Trenton
These days, anyone who watches the news is likely to see incidents that shock the conscience and wrench the gut – abuse of our family members and loved ones in nursing facilities. Whether it is because the numbers are actually increasing, or simply because more and more people are connected to instantaneous communication, these unspeakable incidents seem more and more commonplace. There is no excuse for it, but it nevertheless happens.
What constitutes abuse and neglect varies greatly. Negligence by definition failure to do something that ought to have been done, and which would be done by a reasonably diligent person. Examples of such negligent actions include failing to turn a patient who cannot move to prevent bed sores, or failing to deliver the right medication to the right patient. Negligence includes many other failures as well, like failing to check on a patient regularly, or simply ignoring them when they have an issue or need help.
Did you know that in New Jersey, the state now has a law specifically designed to protect our loved ones in the care of nursing homes? It is known as Peggy’s Law. This new law, enacted in the last quarter of 2017, requires a nursing home staff member to report any suspected abuse directly to the police. Prior to the signing of the bill, nursing home staff members were only required to report abuse to the State Ombudsman, which is not a law enforcement agency.
It is hoped that this new law will give protection to whistle-blowers – that good, decent medical professionals working in healthcare facilities that see something wrong, will say something. However, even this may not be sufficient to protect our loved ones enough. The penalties for elder abuse in New Jersey in the form of fines and state sanctions to the facilities themselves are a pittance when you consider their budget and profits from insurance companies.
Sadly, there are many times when a family visits their loved ones in a hospital, nursing home, respite center, or other “assisted-living” facility, and the family suspects, or even knows something wrong is taking place, but feels powerless to do anything about it. But these families are not powerless. They have an untapped resource they only need to call – The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C.
Medical Malpractice Trenton
The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. have been fighting for their clients and getting results, which includes obtaining judgments and sanctions that far outweigh the tiny fines the state would impose.
If it does happen – if you even suspect it – it is important to contact an attorney right away. It is not a stretch of the imagination to believe that a facility willing to neglect, ignore, or actively abuse an elder would shrink from destroying records and hiding employees. The dedicated and experienced team at The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. knows how to gather the evidence that exists, and find the evidence they are trying to hide. Call Our Office today – we cannot right the wrong and stop the neglect from happening, but we can make the guilty parties pay, and that is often the only way they’ll change.
This content was written on behalf of Greg Prosmushkin.