Nursing Home Staff Fired From Reporting Sexual Abuse Of Resident

Nursing home employees are obligated to report any resident abuse they are aware of, even if the act of abuse is being committed by one of their co-workers.  Nursing home abuse is all too common, and the fear of consequences should never deter someone from reporting the abuse. A lawsuit was brought against one nursing home, because a former employee feels she was terminated from her employment because she made a report to the police department that a fellow male co-worker was sexually assaulting a 93 year old patient residing in that home.

The former employee is seeking $30,000 in compensation under the whistle blower protection law. After reporting the sexual abuse, the employee stated that she felt her boss’s demeanor towards her had changed.  The bosses were afraid that the attack could portray the nursing home in a negative light, giving them a poor reputation.

Sexual abuse of nursing home patient, or any form of nursing home neglect should always be reported, and employees should never hesitate because they feel their jobs may be put in jeopardy. It is the nursing home employee’s responsibility to protect their residents, even if it means reporting abuse or neglect of a patient by another member on staff.

Nursing home residents are extremely vulnerable due to their medical conditions, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.   This makes these residents vulnerable to sex abuse by staff members and other nursing home residents.  In addition, nursing home residents are often weak and unable to communicate to other the fact that they have been sexually victimized and therefore many of these incidents are unreported. 

Michigan nursing homes are required by law to screen potential employees for their past criminal records, but quite often prior sex offenders are not screened and are given employment at the facility.  These individuals prey on the residents who are unable to protect themselves and cannot speak out against these disgusting acts.  When a resident is sexually abused by a staff member, a sexual abuse lawsuit can be filed against the nursing home.

There are many common signs that sexual abuse is taking place in a nursing home. Some of the most common warning signs include:

• Bruising
• Irritation or Itching
• Bleeding
• Trouble Walking
• Sexually Transmitted Infection

Contact A Michigan Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Lawyer

If your loved one is being sexually abused in a Michigan nursing home, or you suspect that they are being abused sexually, call our top rated nursing home neglect law firm immediately to discuss your case with one of our nursing home sexual abuse lawyers. Our attorneys vigorously pursue these types of cases and perform our own independent investigations.  In fact, our investigations often turn up more information than those performed by local police and state regulators.  Call us now at (800) 606-1717 for your free consultation and to learn your legal rights.