After nursing home negligence was caught on tape at a nursing home in Buffalo, New York, 17 former employees of the home were criminally charged with felonies. The incident, which occurred last year, was resolved this month with the sentencing of the employees, all of which plead guilty to various charges. These included falsification of business records, willful violation of health laws, endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, and disorderly conduct. The felonies were reduced to misdemeanors. One nursing aide was sentenced to 15 days in jail, and an additional eight certified nursing aides, seven licensed practical nurses, and one registered nurse were sentenced to community service.
The Case
The case was brought on by video evidence of blatant nursing home negligence
in April of 2014. The 56-year-old resident was bedridden and completely
dependent on the nursing home's staff for care. A hidden camera in
his room showed that staff failed to check on him, provide him with incontinent
care, provide him with liquids, or dispense medications. "They were
also alleged to have altered the nursing home records to conceal their
neglect of the resident," according to medicalmalpracticelawyers.com.
"The former nursing home workers were fired following the allegations
of nursing home neglect, and the nursing home's director of nursing
and facility director were removed from the nursing home."
Nursing Home Medical Malpractice
Nursing home negligence is unfortunately all too common. While the resident in this case did not suffer any injuries as a result (and died later of unrelated causes), nursing home negligence can result in serious injury or death, which could be grounds for a medical malpractice suit.
Numerous studies speak to the prevalence of medical negligence in nursing homes. A 2000 study by the National Center on Elder Abuse found that 44% of nursing home residents had been abused. The same study found that 50% of nursing home staff admitted to mistreatment of residents. Resident on resident mistreatment is another problem facing nursing homes.