I’m so sorry Alec. And I can personally identify with your pain and horror of the nursing home system. Last month we lost my uncle after only 3 days in an assisted care facility. He was receiving food and meds through a feeding tube, but an attendant looked up the wrong chart and gave him someone else’s meds orally.
I’m so sorry Alec. And I can personally identify with your pain and horror of the nursing home system. Last month we lost my uncle after only 3 days in an assisted care facility. He was receiving food and meds through a feeding tube, but an attendant looked up the wrong chart and gave him someone else’s meds orally.
When we visited that morning, we basically found him choking to death in his room and no one was doing anything. I had to yell at them for 10 minutes to call EMS. He was rushed to ER where he died 10 hours later.
I had heard how bad the healthcare system is, but actually living through such an experience and not being able to find a lawyer to take the case has been beyond anything I imagined.
Oh, unfortunately I do believe. Georgia is one of those places that have "capped" malpractice judgements, which makes it virtually impossible for the attorney to recover their expenses in proving the case if they do win.
a friend's 24-year-old niece, who was herself a nursing student at Stony Brook, was experiencing serious abdominal pain for quite a while and finally went to some doctors (her mother had recovered from esophageal cancer, which has a strong genetic component) to find out what the deal was. she and her parents visited the head of Hematology at Stony Brook, and he told them they were crazy, etc. he finally said "OK...FIVE MINUTES," and gave the kid a clean bill of health (remember that hematologists are ALSO oncologists).
she was dead in six months.
it looked like the most obvious malpractice case I'd ever heard of. everyone begged them to sue, but they just didn't want to deal with the trauma involved. now they're both gone as well.
they should have sued. I mean, the motherfucker was an ONCOLOGIST who refused to test for CANCER. and he's the head of the fucking DEPARTMENT in a MEDICAL SCHOOL.
Sharon, I’m so sorry. What a horrific experience and a terrible loss. Why will no lawyer take the case? Are the nursing homes so well-funded and able to out-lawyer patients’ families, and proof of neglect and mistakes so hard to obtain against staff who cover up or refuse to testify, that patients’ families almost always lose? I bet that’s it. But you shouldn’t have to spend money and go to court! There should be an _effective_ watchdog government agency. I gather there’s no such thing. I’m so sorry for your uncle’s horrendous suffering and you and your family’s loss.
Thank you Elizabeth. There really should be some kind of agency overseeing This industry. It is quite appalling. And furthermore, there should be some organization to help you go through all the death aftermath stuff. it took us a month to get a death certificate.
Sharon, I am so so sorry for your loss, and all that your uncle and your family suffered through. There are agencies and organizations that oversee the industry, but vary from state to state. At the very least, your state's licensing bureau should be notified.
As far as medical lawsuits, here's info on Georgia:
"Georgia has a $350,000 cap in place on non-economic damages in any single medical malpractice claim against health care providers. For claims against a single health care facility there is a $350,000 cap on noneconomic damages, which bumps up to $700,000 if more than one facility is deemed liable.
Georgia Medical Malpractice Laws and Requirements - Nolo
While a big legal practice might not take this on, a small or young one might because it is a cut and dried case with obvious error and consequence. But yes, the lawyers want their 33% and 33% of $350,000 seems like a lot to us, but not worth it to them. If the facility is part of a larger corporation. They may be willing to write the family a check without admitting guilt. Even the best of us have made errors, and the facility should have their own insurance to compensate families for these terrible outcomes. Like the airline industry, though, there is no room for error in healthcare systems. This facility's safety system needs state review now.
Thank you MaryPat. I appreciate your kind words and your practical advice. There are actually were two facilities involved in his healthcare. He was at a Pruitt facility for nine weeks before being transferred to a small 15 bed assisted living facility. I’m pretty sure Pruitt did not have a doctor evaluate him before being transferred. In fact, the so-called social worker at Pruitt kept pushing this one facility and told us that hospice was not an option. I’m sure he got a kick back. I think they’re both culpable.
Oh, this is so heartbreaking and infuriating, and probably impossible to prove. If someone contacts the state health department, though, your information could make a difference for other residents, and their families. Hugs.
actually just heard from a lawyer this morning telling me that we had a slim-to-none chance of getting a settlement and he would not take the case. At least he took the time to explain things, which is more than we've gotten from anyone else. But I agree about reporting to the state health department. Time to move forward...
I’m so sorry Alec. And I can personally identify with your pain and horror of the nursing home system. Last month we lost my uncle after only 3 days in an assisted care facility. He was receiving food and meds through a feeding tube, but an attendant looked up the wrong chart and gave him someone else’s meds orally.
When we visited that morning, we basically found him choking to death in his room and no one was doing anything. I had to yell at them for 10 minutes to call EMS. He was rushed to ER where he died 10 hours later.
I had heard how bad the healthcare system is, but actually living through such an experience and not being able to find a lawyer to take the case has been beyond anything I imagined.
I hope you guys are now talking to an attorney and drawing up the papers to sue the shit out of those scumbags.
We’re trying. You would not believe how many attorneys declined immediately.
Oh, unfortunately I do believe. Georgia is one of those places that have "capped" malpractice judgements, which makes it virtually impossible for the attorney to recover their expenses in proving the case if they do win.
a friend's 24-year-old niece, who was herself a nursing student at Stony Brook, was experiencing serious abdominal pain for quite a while and finally went to some doctors (her mother had recovered from esophageal cancer, which has a strong genetic component) to find out what the deal was. she and her parents visited the head of Hematology at Stony Brook, and he told them they were crazy, etc. he finally said "OK...FIVE MINUTES," and gave the kid a clean bill of health (remember that hematologists are ALSO oncologists).
she was dead in six months.
it looked like the most obvious malpractice case I'd ever heard of. everyone begged them to sue, but they just didn't want to deal with the trauma involved. now they're both gone as well.
they should have sued. I mean, the motherfucker was an ONCOLOGIST who refused to test for CANCER. and he's the head of the fucking DEPARTMENT in a MEDICAL SCHOOL.
ok, no more yelling.
Sharon, I’m so sorry. What a horrific experience and a terrible loss. Why will no lawyer take the case? Are the nursing homes so well-funded and able to out-lawyer patients’ families, and proof of neglect and mistakes so hard to obtain against staff who cover up or refuse to testify, that patients’ families almost always lose? I bet that’s it. But you shouldn’t have to spend money and go to court! There should be an _effective_ watchdog government agency. I gather there’s no such thing. I’m so sorry for your uncle’s horrendous suffering and you and your family’s loss.
Thank you Elizabeth. There really should be some kind of agency overseeing This industry. It is quite appalling. And furthermore, there should be some organization to help you go through all the death aftermath stuff. it took us a month to get a death certificate.
Sharon, I am so so sorry for your loss, and all that your uncle and your family suffered through. There are agencies and organizations that oversee the industry, but vary from state to state. At the very least, your state's licensing bureau should be notified.
As far as medical lawsuits, here's info on Georgia:
"Georgia has a $350,000 cap in place on non-economic damages in any single medical malpractice claim against health care providers. For claims against a single health care facility there is a $350,000 cap on noneconomic damages, which bumps up to $700,000 if more than one facility is deemed liable.
https://www.nolo.com › georgia-me...
Georgia Medical Malpractice Laws and Requirements - Nolo
While a big legal practice might not take this on, a small or young one might because it is a cut and dried case with obvious error and consequence. But yes, the lawyers want their 33% and 33% of $350,000 seems like a lot to us, but not worth it to them. If the facility is part of a larger corporation. They may be willing to write the family a check without admitting guilt. Even the best of us have made errors, and the facility should have their own insurance to compensate families for these terrible outcomes. Like the airline industry, though, there is no room for error in healthcare systems. This facility's safety system needs state review now.
Thank you MaryPat. I appreciate your kind words and your practical advice. There are actually were two facilities involved in his healthcare. He was at a Pruitt facility for nine weeks before being transferred to a small 15 bed assisted living facility. I’m pretty sure Pruitt did not have a doctor evaluate him before being transferred. In fact, the so-called social worker at Pruitt kept pushing this one facility and told us that hospice was not an option. I’m sure he got a kick back. I think they’re both culpable.
Oh, this is so heartbreaking and infuriating, and probably impossible to prove. If someone contacts the state health department, though, your information could make a difference for other residents, and their families. Hugs.
actually just heard from a lawyer this morning telling me that we had a slim-to-none chance of getting a settlement and he would not take the case. At least he took the time to explain things, which is more than we've gotten from anyone else. But I agree about reporting to the state health department. Time to move forward...
All the Best.
my impression is that there ARE such agencies, but their position is usually to favor the physician. and often, the burden of proof is HUGE.
I'm so sorry to hear this.
❗️ ❗️ ❗️