Many Wyoming residents entrust their loved ones’ care to licensed care providers, sometimes on a long-term or permanent basis. Family members cannot be present 24/7 although many visit their loved ones as often as they can. It is devastating to learn that a parent, spouse or other family member has suffered injury or illness because of substandard care. An incident that occurred in another state was deemed to have been caused by nursing home negligence, and a spokesperson for the facility in question adamantly denies the allegations.
The case involves a 57-year-old man who had been a resident at a particular nursing home before being admitted to a hospital for a five-day stay. Sadly, the man died, and the cause of death is believed to have been septic shock. The decedent’s sister says her family was shocked to learn that her brother had suffered severe bedsores, which ultimately led to his fatal infection.
The family has filed a lawsuit against the nursing home for neglect and wrongful death. The facility spokesperson said the nursing home should be held culpable for the man’s death because he had already been in the hospital for five days when he passed. Three nurses from the nursing home were indicted by a grand jury in connection with the incident.
Nursing home negligence is problematic in Wyoming and many other states. Family members who lose loved ones because of substandard nursing care may be understandably frustrated and angry to learn that their family members’ deaths were preventable. Every patient and family has the right to reasonably expect that care providers will act according to the highest level of accepted safety standards. If that doesn’t happen and a patient suffers injury or dies because of it, victims or family members are entitled to seek restitution in civil court.
