When an individual is disabled, or has reached an age where he or she can no longer live independently and care for himself or herself, a live-in nurse may be employed to assist the individual in his or her daily life. These caretakers may spend a certain number of days, weeks or months with one client before moving on to another. Usually, this type of intense service is privately funded.
Live-in nurses must adhere to the same professional standards as medical providers in a professional setting. This includes making sure that all of the patients needs are taken care of and medical emergencies are responded to accurately and promptly. Unfortunately, some of these caretakers fail to live up to the professionals standards of their field.
The following list outlines examples of live-in nurse abuse or neglect that may occur in the home:
- Malnutrition or dehydration of patient
- Failure to respond to a medical emergency
- Burns from too-hot bath water
- Contributing to unsanitary conditions or failure to provide cleaning or bathing services
- Contributing to the formation of bed sores or failure to turn patient regularly
- Physical, emotional or sexual abuse
Those who are disabled or elderly deserve to be treated with respect and dignity from their caretakers. There is no justification for neglecting or abusing a person who has been entrusted into one's care. When physical or emotional injury results from their behavior, victims and their families may be able to bring the individuals responsible to court on the basis of medical malpractice.
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To learn more about caretaker abuse, visit the web site of the experienced Indianapolis personal injury lawyers of the Charles D. Hankey Law Office today.
James Witherspoon
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