Did a Hospice or Palliative Care Service Abuse Your Loved One?
Atlanta Hospice Abuse Attorney Fighting For Senior Citizen Rights
According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, 83 percent of hospice patients are aged 65 years or older. Many patients and their families choose hospice care when they are facing an illness or condition that is unlikely to improve. Palliative care, or care intended to reduce pain, is the focus of many hospice organizations. However, mistakes and malicious actions by these care centers can cause serious injuries and wrongful deaths.
Contact our office today if you believe that a hospice did your family wrong. We are prepared to fight aggressively for the compensation and justice that you deserve. Atlanta attorney Stephen D. Apolinsky has over 26 years of experience handling nursing home abuse and neglect cases, and our firm understands that elderly individuals must be treated with the utmost dignity, respect, and care. Anything less is unacceptable—and unlawful.
Hospice Abuse and Negligence
Physicians, nurses and hospice workers all have an obligation to do whatever they can to make patients feel comfortable and safe as they face the end of their lives. This includes providing proper nutrition and a welcoming environment. If they fail to uphold a basic standard of care for their residents, they could be held liable for any form of hospice abuse, including emotional or physical injuries, that they cause.
The Standard of Care for Hospices
Hospices are regulated under the same standards of care as hospitals, clinics, and inpatient centers. Hospice patients have the right to be fully informed about any treatments or medications they may be given, the right to a second opinion and the right to accept or decline any procedure or medical action.
Violations of the standard of care come in many different forms. Legal action may be brought against a hospice in cases of:
- Bed sores or pressure ulcers
- Attempted suicide
- Oxygen line contamination
- Death or disability resulting from a medication error
- Injuries due to a slip or fall
- Injuries caused by malfunctioning equipment
Multiple parties may be liable in the event of a hospice injury. Your Atlanta nursing home abuse lawyer will help you take action against whoever was responsible, including physicians, nurses, therapists, drug manufacturers, and medical equipment companies. You may be able to secure compensation for the emotional turmoil of seeing your loved one suffer, in addition to any medical costs or lost wages you incurred as a result of the incident.
We Will Fight for Your Family After Suffering Hospice Negligence
You have rights and options for remedies if your family was affected by the negligent actions of a hospice, and we offer compassionate and diligent legal counsel. Contact our office for a confidential and free consultation about your case. An Atlanta hospice abuse lawyer will know how to hold the hospice responsible for the pain and suffering your family experienced.
