Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog
A recently published news article discusses the difficulty that law enforcement and regulatory authorities have been facing nationwide in attempting to apply existing laws to curb the increasing pattern of “social media abuse” of long-term care and nursing home residents by health care workers. According to the article, there have been dozens of reported instances in which health care workers publish explicit photos or videos of nursing home patients on social media. The resulting posts have been offensive, hurtful, and exploitative of the nursing home patients, and they demonstrate the unprofessional levels of care that some nursing facilities provide.
Current Laws Addressing Nursing Home Abuse May Not Go Far Enough
According to a recently published report noted in the article, current laws in many states protect nursing home patients from social media abuse by making it illegal for a health care worker or assistant to post an image containing a resident’s genitals on social media. Unfortunately, many of the abusive and humiliating posts that have been made don’t include an image of a patient’s genitals but remain extremely offensive. One such post mentioned in the article included an image of an elderly resident’s hands and legs covered in feces, accompanied by a caption that contained profanity and made fun of the man.
Possible Recourse For Victims of Nursing Home Abuse
The recent issue surrounding social media abuse in nursing homes serves as a reminder that the medical workers whom Americans trust to provide long-term care to their loved ones often lack the competence, decision-making abilities, and professionalism that should be required to provide such care. Victims of nursing home abuse, neglect, or medical malpractice, as well as their families, may be entitled to monetary damages as compensation for the poor care provided by a nursing facility. Victims of abuse can consult a Maryland or Washington, D.C. nursing home abuse attorney and pursue a negligence or medical malpractice claim against the responsible parties to seek compensation for the damages suffered by their loved one. Victims who have had embarrassing pictures published of them by health care workers on social media may also be entitled to relief.
Is Your Loved One a Victim of Abuse?
If a loved one of yours has been the victim of nursing home abuse or medical malpractice, you may be able to hold the negligent or willfully abusive parties responsible for the damages related to the care provided to your family member. The Maryland nursing home abuse attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers are experienced in holding negligent health care providers accountable for their actions, and we can help you seek the compensation that you deserve. At Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, we help people in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the entire Washington, D.C. area with medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, and other negligence cases. Call us toll-free at 1-800-654-1949 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation today.
More Blog Posts:
Plaintiff’s Failure to Produce Expert’s Report in a Timely Manner Results in Early Dismissal, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published July 12, 2016.
Court Holds Family Member of Nursing Home Resident Cannot Consent to Arbitration Unless Resident Is Deemed Incompetent by Primary Care Physician, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published July 19, 2016.