Many nursing home residents must use feeding tubes because they may have a condition that prevents them from eating on their own or swallow. The most common name for these tubes are feeding tubes, but they are called percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy (PEG) tubes. The way that these tubes function is that they will be directly inside the stomach as they pass through the abdominal wall. The purpose of these tubes is to provide the resident with nourishment so that they do not develop conditions like malnutrition or dehydration. Yet, while this may be beneficial for those who cannot swallow or eat, using these tubes do not come without its risks. Feeding tubes must be administered with meticulous care and skill because they can bring on a number of complications.
If a negligent nursing home care provider caused the resident to suffer any complication that led to their damages because their feeding tube was not properly placed, or they did not sanitize it properly, PEG tube negligence lawyers in Miami have the skill and experience needed to combat the nursing home facility and its members who were neglectful during the care of the resident.
How Negligence Can Lead to Improper Use of Feeding Tubes
Sadly, many residents have their health so deteriorated that they require feeding tubes to assist them with their eating. A vast majority of nursing home facilities are not trained and skilled to handle resident who needs these feeding tubes. These following negligence’s can take place by staff members within a nursing home facility when a PEG tube is involved:
- Lack of training with PEG tubes
- Tube site not being monitored properly
- Proper hygiene not being applied on tube site
- Feedings not administered correctly
A variety of complications can come when a feeding tube has not been used properly. Some of those complications include:
- Intense pain
- Blockage of the tube
- Pneumonia
- Dehydration or malnutrition
- Bleeding
- Infections; and
- More
Figures on Feeding Tubes in Nursing Home Residents
- About 54 of 1,000 residents have feeding tubes
- Nationally, about 18-34% of residents use feeding tubes
PEG Tube FAQS
Question: How long will my loved one need to have the PEG tube for?
Answer: This depends on their situation. Some residents will require it long-term, while others will need it short-term. It is important to monitor the person after the tube has been removed.
Question: What if the color of the tube has changed?
Answer: If the tube is being properly cared for there shouldn’t be any change in the color of the tube. However, certain medications and foods may cause discoloration of the tube. It is important to address the concerns to the nursing home staff if a color change is noticed.
Elder Neglect with Feeding Tube Lawyers
A sad reality is that many individuals required PEG tubes to maintain their overall health, but when neglect is applied towards a resident who is using a feeding tube, complications may develop that can cause the resident to suffer severe damages. A lawyer from Miami firm of Percy Martinez elder neglect can assist the victim with their claim at recovering back for the damages that have been inflicted on the elder person.
Miami
Email: percy@percymartinezlaw.com