Osteomyelitis in Virginia Nursing Homes
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control, only about two in 10,000 people will ever develop osteomyelitis. This rare bone infection is often a serious complication of bedsores in nursing home residents.
Although osteomyelitis in Virginia nursing homes rarely occurs, it can be limb or life-threatening. Sadly, it can develop out of the negligence of nursing home staff who do not take care to prevent pressure ulcers or take steps to reduce infection. If you or someone you know has a diagnosis of osteomyelitis, you may benefit from a consultation with a skilled lawyer.
What is Osteomyelitis?
Osteomyelitis in Virginia nursing facilities is usually proceeded by a bedsore in the same area. Bedsores are open wounds that can extend into deep tissues, including bone. If bone and other tissues are exposed to the environment, it is likely for germs to get in the wound and colonize, leading to a bone infection known as osteomyelitis.
Bone infections are more common in residents who are diabetic, on steroid medications, or have rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately, osteomyelitis is difficult to treat. In some cases, it may be necessary to remove the bone by amputation to preserve the surrounding tissues.
Liability for Osteomyelitis in Nursing Homes
If a nursing home resident’s osteomyelitis developed because of a bedsore, the nursing home might be found liable for the damages. Bedsores are usually the result of improper care and neglect in a nursing home, which represents a breach of the duty owed to the resident.
This breach could involve not turning immobile residents, failing to keep their skin clean and dry, or even failure to provide prescribed skin powders or creams. In some cases, poor sanitary habits may also represent a breach as they cause bacteria that causes osteomyelitis to thrive. By breaching their duty, the nursing home acted negligently, creating a liability.
The breach of duty is the proximate cause of the bedsore that caused the osteomyelitis. Bedsores and osteomyelitis are usually painful, debilitating, disfiguring and extremely expensive. If the resident’s attorney can show the jury that the breach of duty caused the damages above, the plaintiff could receive compensation for those damages.
Time Limits to File an Osteomyelitis Case
Due to the severity of osteomyelitis in nursing homes in Virginia, potential plaintiffs and their families may be focused on the necessary medical care and healing. However, they should explore their legal options with a qualified attorney sooner than later.
The statute of limitations is a given deadline to pursue a lawsuit. Once two years pass from the date of the discovery of the osteomyelitis, the plaintiff has lost their legal right to seek compensation for their damages. Although they could still file a suit, it would almost certainly be dismissed based on the expired statute of limitations.
Get Legal Help for Osteomyelitis in Virginia Nursing Facilities
Individuals suffering from osteomyelitis in Virginia nursing homes need legal help to recover their damages. While no amount of money can heal osteomyelitis or take back the pain that residents have endured, help is available.
An experienced attorney could stand up to nursing homes and hold them accountable for the poor care residents receive and the complications that ensue. You can schedule your legal consultation today by calling a compassionate attorney.
