Malnutrition & Dehydration Death Lawsuit Against Nursing Home in Monroe, MI
Our wrongful death nursing home lawyers at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. recently filed a lawsuit against a Monroe, Michigan nursing home for their failure to properly prevent and treat a resident for malnutrition and dehydration. The lawsuit was filed under the Michigan Wrongful Death Statute on behalf of the residents family members and seeks damages for pain and suffering that the resident endured prior to her death. In addition to damages, it also seeks monetary compensation for the surviving family members and the loss of her companionship due to her death.
Staff at a nursing home should be properly trained to prevent, treat, and recognize symptoms of malnutrition and dehydration in a resident. If the facility fails to do so, the residents have become a victim of abuse and it can give rise to a nursing home neglect lawsuit. In this case, a 95-year-old resident was taking a medication that effected her appetite. Due to the medication, the resident stopped eating and drinking, became weak and lethargic. However, despite these changes, the nurses at the Monroe Michigan nursing home facility in which she was residing at failed to recognize nor report her changes in condition to a physician. The staff also continued to administer the medication to the patient. Due to the result of their negligence and failure to convey changes in the patients condition in order to prevent further injury, the patient was taken to a local Monroe hospital where she died from malnutrition and dehydration.
Dehydration and malnutrition can be the cause of side effects of medications and other medical problems. However, when a patient suffers from these side effects, it is the responsibility of the nursing home staff to recognize and report condition changes. Some of the most common signs of dehydration and malnutrition in nursing home residents include:
- Weight loss
- Muscle weakness
- Less urine output
- Increased heart rate
- Increased infections
- Sunken eyes
- Dizziness
Nursing care facilities must have attentive staff members to prevent residents from becoming dehydrated or malnourished. When a patient is documented as being at risk, preventative measures should be taken to prevent such conditions. The failure to prevent malnutrition and dehydration and then treat them before they become too severe is often due to negligence and can give rise to lawsuit. If a resident dies, it can give rise to a wrongful death lawsuit.
If you suspect that your family members is suffering from dehydration or malnutrition due to the negligence of the Michigan nursing home, you should contact our experienced Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. nursing home legal team now to discuss your case. We have significant experience in these types of cases and have a track record of obtaining sizeable settlements on behalf of residents and their family members. Call us now at (800) 606-1717 to speak with one of our attorneys about your case. We offer a free consultation and will represent you under our No Win No Fee Promise, which means there are no legal fees or costs until we win or settle your case. Call today!
