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Bed sores, also called pressure sores or decubitus ulcers, are a common occurrence in nursing homes and can most certainly contribute to catastrophic injury and death.
A bedsore is an injury most often caused by prolonged pressure to the skin. When the pressure is exerted, the circulation slows or is stopped in that area. Without oxygen and nutrients provided by the blood, the compressed muscle and tissue begin to decay and die.
Some bedsores are so large that they essentially become open holes in the body. As a result, these wounds become a breeding ground for infection, including sepsis and cellulitis. The infections eventual cause organ failure and death.
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The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, or AHRQ, the lead federal agency dedicated to improving healthcare safety in the United States, reports that in 2006, bedsores resulted in death in 1 out of every 25 admissions where bedsores were the primary diagnosis. Even so the chances of death increase when the nursing home resident has other serious diseases or ailments. In fact, in another study in which bedsores were the secondary diagnosis, the death rate was 1 in 8.
Although common, bedsores are almost always preventable. In fact, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services no longer reimburses hospitals for treatment of new pressure sores in Medicare patients.
According to available statistics, over 17,000 wrongful death lawsuits arising from bed sores are filed each year in the United States. This type of case is more common than any other single injury case, including slip and falls, misdiagnosis, or medication errors.
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If your loved died after developing pressure ulcers at a nursing home and you are wondering if you have a claim, then please, feel free to call and speak to one of our experienced Georgia nursing home neglect lawyers today. Our consultations are always free. If you would like more information about this topic, be sure to click on our other videos, or better yet, click the subscribe button to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Thank you.
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