Nursing home residents in Maryland deserve to live in a safe and sanitary environment free from abuse and mistreatment. If abuse or certain other incidents occur at a Maryland nursing home, the nursing home is required to report the incident to the state. Facilities that receive federal funding must abide by federal regulations, and under federal regulations, a facility is required to report all allegations of mistreatment, neglect, or abuse, including injuries of unknown sources, and misappropriations of resident property. Incidents must be reported to the state within 24 hours. Maryland nursing homes are required to investigate all allegations of abuse and reports from investigations must be reported to Maryland’s Office of Health Care Qualify within five working days of the alleged violation.
Do Maryland Nursing Homes Have a Duty to Stop Abusive Staff Members?
Yes, Maryland nursing homes are required to have policies and procedures in place to keep residents safe and free from abuse. Abuse can include physical and mental abuse, exploitation, or neglect. This includes abuse conducted by staff members as well as other residents. Facilities that fail to report abuse are subject to fines and other sanctions. Victims of abuse may be able to receive financial compensation through a Maryland nursing home claim.
Nursing Home Faulted for Failing to Report Suicide Attempt
Recently, a nursing home was cited after it failed to report a suicide attempt as required. According to one news source, the facility reportedly failed to report a suicide attempt in which the resident had attempted to wrap sheets and cords around their neck. No internal investigation was conducted and the facility failed to report the incident to the health department as required. The recent inspection also revealed that a staff member borrowed $200 from a resident, which was also a violation. The staff member was supposed to repay the money in monthly installments and when the staff failed to make a payment, the resident complained to the facility. Yet, the facility failed to report the misappropriation of the resident’s money. The facility was also faulted for failing to report physical abuse among residents and failing to provide enough supervision and assistance to prevent accidents among residents. The facility was placed on a government list of the nation’s worst nursing homes earlier this year which included 86 nursing homes across the U.S.
The same facility was also cited for a violation last year. In that violation, the facility failed to notify the police as required when a resident who was a registered sex offender repeatedly sexually abused a female resident who was suffering from dementia. More recently, city officials called out the facility when it found temperatures inside the facility exceeded 80 degrees.
Contact a Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer
If you believe your loved one has been abused or neglected at a Maryland nursing home, consult with a Maryland nursing home lawyer as soon as possible. Others may be at risk. At Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, we take pride in advocating for the rights of victims against negligent nursing homes, incompetent health care providers, careless drivers, and other defendants and their insurers. We have over two decades of experience representing injured victims throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. To set up a free initial consultation, call us at (410) 654-3600 or contact us online.