Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog
Nursing homes do not enjoy a good reputation when it comes to patient care, and for good reason. Over the past few years, it seems that there has not been a week that goes by without an incident of nursing home abuse or neglect. With the increase in reports of nursing home abuse and neglect over the past several decades, as well as the corresponding advancement of technology, the question of whether hidden cameras in nursing home facilities should be allowed has recently garnered a significant amount of attention.
Cameras in nursing homes are a good way to monitor the level of care that a nursing home provides to its residents. However, not surprisingly, when a family places a hidden camera in a nursing home, certain legal issues may arise. Importantly, there is no federal legislation giving families or residents the right to install hidden cameras in a nursing home facility. However, some states, such as Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico, have passed state legislation giving families the right to place cameras in at least some circumstances.
In most cases, a nursing home will include a clause in the pre-admission contract restricting the resident’s right to use video or audio surveillance. And in most cases, since the resident’s room is technically the property of the nursing home facility, these clauses are upheld. However, if the family of a nursing home resident suspects that their loved one is a victim of abuse or neglect, legal action may be taken through a Maryland nursing home neglect or abuse lawsuit.
Family Discovers Severe Neglect in Missouri Nursing Home after Installing Hidden Camera
Last month, a news report documented one woman’s troubling discoveries after she placed a hidden camera in her father’s nursing home room. According to the report, the woman was concerned about the level of care that her father was receiving and installed the camera to monitor how the staff interacted with and cared for her father.
The video revealed several instances of neglect. For example, it was discovered that staff were dropping the man’s food off in his room and then leaving, despite a doctor’s orders that he receive help eating. Additionally, staff were coming into the man’s room and eating his food while he was sleeping. At one point, the man was so thirsty that he drank syrup and hand lotion in an attempt to quench his thirst. The video also revealed that on at least one occasion, he went at least three days without having staff change his clothes.
Is Your Loved One at Risk?
If you have a loved one in a Maryland nursing home, and you believe that they are at risk of nursing home abuse or neglect, contact a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney to discuss the legal options you may have. Nursing homes have a duty to provide adequate care to residents, and a home’s failure to provide such care can result in civil liability. The skilled personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at the Maryland law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience assisting nursing home residents and their families with holding abusive nursing homes responsible for their actions. Call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free consultation today.
More Blog Posts:
Overworked and Overstressed Nurses Are More Likely to Make Serious Mistakes, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published April 14, 2017.
Resident-on-Resident Abuse in Maryland Nursing Homes, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published April 28, 2017.