Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Medication Errors in Massachusetts Nursing Homes
As the nation’s population ages, more and more Americans will find themselves in the difficult position of placing a parent in a nursing home.
Deciding to put a loved one in elder care is an emotionally delicate decision and one that requires a great deal of consideration and study. We all want the best for those we love, but finding a nursing home that is safe, clean, trustworthy and within the family budget can be quite a challenge.
Sadly, even reputable nursing homes can sometimes make mistakes that endanger the lives of its residents. Caring for the elderly is a demanding job that calls for great patience, attentiveness, and decision-making abilities. Not every member of a nursing home staff is up to the task.
Many nursing homes are understaffed and faced with a range of difficult resident behaviors. In the midst of this turbulent atmosphere, nursing home staff will sometimes attempt to manage patients in ways that may be harmful to them. This was true in Massachusetts in the cases of nursing home staff administering antipsychotic drugs to patients with dementia.
Use of Antipsychotic Drugs in Nursing Homes
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 28% of Massachusetts nursing home residents were given antipsychotics in 2009. This is a very high percentage compared to that of other states.
The dementia patients were given strong antipsychotic drugs that are meant for patients with serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. Apparently, staff administered the drugs to the residents to control some difficult and disruptive behaviors associated with their dementia.
There are medications and measures that can be taken to more safely manage troubling dementia-related behavior in nursing home residents. Antipsychotics are not appropriate drugs for the treatment of dementia, and can cause serious or fatal side effects if given in error, particularly if the patient is already weakened by age and physical illness.
Nursing homes are meant to preserve not only the health but the dignity and human rights of their residents. If your loved one suffered illness or death after being administered antipsychotic drugs in a Massachusetts nursing facility, it is in your best interest to contact a personal injury attorney.
Contacting a Personal Injury Attorney
When selecting an attorney you’ll want to ask critical questions such as; how long have you been practicing law; do you have experience with nursing home abuse cases in Boston, Massachusetts; what is the biggest settlement or verdict you have won?
For more than 30 years the Kiley Law Group, located in Andover, Massachusetts, has fought on behalf of malpractice victims. Our personal injury lawyers take time when speaking with you about your injuries. We work with you on a contingency basis, which means there are NO FEES unless our trained personal injury attorneys win your case. Call now for a FREE legal consultation – (888) 208-1695.
