Nursing home residents have the right to reside in a safe facility free from abuse of all kinds. Abuse can take different forms, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect or isolation, financial abuse and exploitation, and emotional abuse. Under Maryland Family Law Article § 14-101, abuse is defined as “the…
Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog
Veterans Reportedly “Routinely Receiving Substandard Care” in VA Nursing Home
Although most people would prefer not to have their loved ones move into a Maryland nursing home, there is often little choice in the matter. As a result, nursing homes have become commonplace in Maryland and across the country. When a family trusts a nursing home to care for an…
Supreme Court Hears Case Concerning Arbitration Provisions
Nursing home residents and their families often sign admission agreements when a resident enters a nursing home. These agreements frequently contain arbitration provisions, which can have a significant impact in a Maryland nursing home lawsuit. The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard argument on a case concerning arbitration provisions. The issue…
Federal Government Attempts to Combat Underreporting of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in Maryland and Nationwide
As the average lifespan in America continues to increase, more and more families will need to rely on Maryland nursing homes to provide care for their aging loved ones. Indeed, nursing homes offer a necessary service; however, reports have recently come to light that nursing home abuse and neglect are…
Maryland Announces $2.2 Million Settlement with Nursing Homes for Involuntarily Discharging Patients
This past month, the state of Maryland announced a settlement due to the involuntary discharge of nursing home residents in violation of Maryland’s Patient’s Bill of Rights. Medicare Recipients’ Rights and Involuntary Patient Transfer and Discharge Maryland’s Patient’s Bill of Rights protects the rights of individuals in nursing homes. Under…
Court Rejects Nursing Home’s Demand for Arbitration in Recent Wrongful Death Case
Recently, a state appellate court issued an opinion in a wrongful death case discussing the validity of an arbitration contract signed by the plaintiff on behalf of her elderly father. Ultimately, the court concluded that because the plaintiff’s father lacked the mental capacity to sign the contract at the time…
Malpractice Claim Against Nurses Dismissed for Failure to Provide Individual Notice of Claim to Each Defendant
Legal claims against a Maryland nursing home generally fall into three categories: abuse, neglect, or medical malpractice. Medical malpractice claims arise in the nursing home setting when healthcare professionals in nursing homes provide medical care for the residents. In these cases, plaintiffs have to make sure to comply with the…
Nursing Home Attempts to Blame Contractor After Patient Dies from Drinking Detergent
Nursing home residents in Maryland and across the country can be at great risk when left unattended, particularly if they have diminished mental capacity. In a recent case before a federal appeals court, a patient who had Alzheimer’s disease allegedly wandered from her room while unattended and died after she…
Medical Malpractice Claims in Maryland Nursing Homes
Because nursing homes generally offer medical care to residents, Maryland medical malpractice claims may arise in the nursing home setting. In a recent medical malpractice case, a family brought a medical malpractice claim after their elderly mother fell. The eighty-nine-year-old patient fell after she got out of her hospital bed,…
According to New Study Inadequate Staffing Levels Plague Nursing Homes in Maryland and Nationwide
As the average age of the United States population continues to increase, more families have to rely on the services of nursing homes to care for family members. Unfortunately, many nursing home facilities are not properly equipped to take care of aging individuals with serious limitations and as a result…