Pennsylvania Nursing Home Lawyers
Nursing homes have a duty to protect residents from physical and sexual abuse perpetrated by staff members and other nursing home residents. Nursing home patients are often unable to defend themselves and may not be capable of reporting abuse or may be too embarrassed or afraid to report abuse. If you suspect that your loved one is being or has been physically or sexually abused in a nursing home, please talk to our Pennsylvania nursing home lawyers right away.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse sometimes comes in the form of very violent acts, but includes more subtle forms of abuse such as rough handling, pinching, and intentional or unintentional harm, such as dropping a patient. Examples of physical abuse in a nursing home include:
- Hitting
- Punching
- Slapping
- Kicking
- Pinching
- Hair pulling
- Tripping
- Unreasonable use of restraints
- Rough handling during care
- Physical fights between residents
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is more common in nursing homes than you might suspect. Like physical abuse, sexual abuse may be perpetrated by nursing home staff or other residents. Victims of sexual abuse in nursing homes are often too embarrassed to report the abuse. Unfortunately, nursing home patients who do report sexual abuse are not always taken seriously. Examples of sexual abuse in nursing homes include:
- Inappropriate or unwanted touching
- Coerced nudity
- Sexually explicit filming or photographing
- Sexual harassment
- Rape
- Sodomy
Nursing Home Responsibility to Prevent Physical and Sexual Abuse
Nursing homes must properly screen prospective employees for a history of abusing patients. They have a duty to make sure that staff members are adequately trained to handle patients properly, and how to recognize inappropriate behavior and protect residents from each other. Many for-profit chains hire the cheapest aides and nurses, and do not check their backgrounds.
Some nursing home patients can and do become violent. Unfortunately, some nursing home employees will stand back and let patients fight rather than get involved and risk injury to themselves. Nursing homes must have adequate staff to supervise residents and prevent violence. Staff members must be properly trained to safely intervene when violence between residents occurs.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse in Pennsylvania, please call us today or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation with our nursing home lawyers is free, and if we agree to represent you, we will work for a contingent fee, which means we won’t get paid for our services unless you receive a settlement or an award. In Pennsylvania, a personal injury lawsuit must be filed before the expiration of the statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.