Expert Witnesses in Maryland Nursing Home Bedsore Cases

Bedsores can be painful and debilitating, but in some cases, they can become life-threatening. Caused by continuous pressure against the skin, bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, often occur when a person is left in one position for an extended period. Seniors and mobility-impaired nursing home patients are at a much higher risk of developing bedsores, but often, prevention is a simple as helping a patient shift positions every few hours.

Sadly, neglectful nursing home staff members often leave patients in a single position for hours at a time. This increases their chances of developing sores, which when left untreated, can lead to medical conditions such as sepsis, skin cancer, necrosis, and gangrene, and all of which can result in death. To hold such homes liable for their negligence, lawyers often call expert witnesses in Maryland nursing home bedsore cases.

Physicians

Arguably, physicians are the most powerful expert witnesses in Maryland nursing home bedsore cases. Ideally, dermatologists or doctors specializing in geriatric medicine often make the best witnesses, but those involved directly in caring for a bedsore patient may provide important testimony as well. Since doctors have extensive knowledge of medical conditions, and many have experienced directly caring for bedsore patients, their testimony is indispensable.

Courts often weigh whether a defendant provided a reasonable standard of care, or in other words, took steps a reasonable person in a similar situation would take. To find this out, a court may ask physicians what nursing home staff members or administrators should have done to properly care for a bedsore patient. Physicians are also trained to notice if bedsores are the result of regular abuse or neglect.

Nursing Home Experts and Administrators

Since a nursing home bedsore case involves nursing home staff, administrators, and owners, it is only natural to include other individuals with nursing home experience. As stated above, the court will want to see what most nursing home employees or administrators would have done in the same situation, so testimony from other nonbiased nursing home administrators and owners can go a long way.

What should be done to prevent bedsores? What steps should an employee take if they notice a patient developing a bedsore? When is the appropriate time to seek professional medical care? These are questions third-party experts can answer for the court.

Medical Examiners

If a bedsore results in the death of a patient, the lawyer for the plaintiff may choose to call a medical examiner as a witness. Medical examiners are trained pathologists who are experts at determining causes of death, even after a person is buried. They use their own medical knowledge and a variety of technological devices to determine the cause of death of an individual, and in courts, their testimony is highly valued.

If a medical examiner believes a bedsore or resulting complications resulted in the death of a patient, it can bolster the argument of the plaintiff. Often, if a medical examiner can prove a bedsore either directly or indirectly caused the death of a person, the plaintiff may be entitled to financial compensation for their injuries.

Hire Expert Witnesses in Maryland Nursing Home Bedsore Cases

Expert witnesses in Maryland nursing home bedsore cases can be important for lawyers and their clients. Their testimony can easily tip the scales in their favor and ensure patients obtain the compensation and justice they deserve.

Negligent nursing homes should never be allowed to get away with their actions, and by hiring expert witnesses, patients can ensure they do not. If you need a witness for your bedsore case, contact an attorney today.