May 21, 2024 | Nursing Home Abuse
Bedsores are caused when pressure is placed for an extended period of time on one part of a patient’s body, such as their back, hip bone, or buttocks. They are often preventable, and hospitals and nursing homes should have procedures in place to keep them from happening.
If you or a loved one suffered from bedsores, the hospital or nursing home may be liable for your injury. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you navigate the legal process for holding them responsible.
What Are Bedsores?
Bedsores, also called pressure sores or pressure ulcers, are wounds caused by unrelieved and extended pressure on the skin. They often occur on bony parts of the body, such as the elbow, hips, buttocks, shoulder, and head, where pressure on the skin is increased.
Bedsores begin as a red, pink, or purple spot on the skin that does not turn white when pressed. They can then develop into blisters or open sores, which can become deeper and infected. Severe bedsores can spread into muscles and bones or even become life-threatening.
They are very common in nursing homes and hospitals, where over two million patients are treated for bedsores each year. They may be especially prominent in nursing homes, where the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 2% to 28% of patients have bedsores.
Who Is Most Likely to Get Bedsores?
The following patients are most likely to develop a bedsore:
- Patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs)
- Patients with poor circulation
- Patients with diabetes
- Patients who suffer from incontinence
- Patients with reduced sensation in certain body parts, including patients with paralysis, neuropathy, or even Alzheimers and dementia
- Patients who are undernourished
- Patients who have undergone serious or extensive surgery
These conditions can increase one’s risk of developing a bedsore, as can any condition that results in a patient remaining in one position for an extended period of time.
What Are the Stages of a Bedsore?
Bedsores are classified into stages according to their severity.
- Stage 1: A bedsore may appear to be a bruise or red spot on the skin. It may feel itchy or warm to the touch.
- Stage 2: A bedsore may look like a blister or open sore. It will feel painful.
- Stage 3: The sore will resemble a crater and may have dark coloration around the edges of the wound.
- Stage 4: The wound has spread to surrounding muscle, bone, or joints. It can cause osteomyelitis, a serious bone infection, or sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection.
Stage 4 bedsores are very serious and can require substantial recovery time.
Can Hospitals and Nursing Homes Be Held Responsible for Bedsores?
Hospitals and nursing homes may be liable for the actions of their employees that lead to a patient developing a bedsore. Under a theory of vicarious liability, a hospital or nursing home can be held responsible for the actions of their employees. Thus, if a hospital employee or doctor fails to provide adequate care to prevent bedsores or treat them early, the hospital may be held liable for that employee’s carelessness.
Hospitals or nursing homes may also be directly liable if their actions or inactions directly lead to a bedsore, such as by being understaffed.
Contact a South Carolina Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer at Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers Today
For more information, contact the nursing home abuse law firm of Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation.
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Columbia
1333 Main St #510,
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 373-1706
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Lexington
5465 Sunset Blvd Suite B,
Lexington, SC 29072
(803) 373-1302
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Orangeburg
161 Elliott St SE Suite B,
Orangeburg, SC 29115
(803) 373-7593
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Blythewood
749-2 University Village Dr,
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 592-6553
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Columbiana Dr
380 Columbiana Dr
Columbia, SC 29212