There are numerous regulations and laws associated with assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and hospitals all around the state of Florida. The most vulnerable individuals of the nation are placed in their care, which is a very important responsibility and liability that these facilities have. For these facilities, reporting and licensing requirements and extremely strict for all the good reasons. Despite all their strict regulations and laws, individuals within these facilities sometimes “mysteriously” pass away. Even if the death of the individual cannot be explained, it must be reported. Detailed protocols must be followed once a death takes place so that the scene is not tampered with.
When a wrongful death takes place in either an assisted living facility or nursing home, a number of organizations may be involved in the investigation process to determine the cause of the person’s death including, medical examiners officer, law enforcement, Florida Department of Children and Family, and the Agency for Health Care Administration. If a death cannot be explained, perhaps something is trying to be covered up. For this reason, it is essential to speak with a Miami wrongful death lawyer who specialize in filing a lawsuit against a professional care facility.
Mysterious Death Can Turn Out to Be Abuse or Neglect
Several cases involving a mysterious death have turned out to be caused by either neglect or abuse by the staff members. Some of those causes include:
- Residents or employees of the facility physically abusing the deceased
- Sexually assaulted
- Lack of supervision leading to falls
- Dehydration or malnutrition due to negligent feeding
- Serious pressure sores
- Infections that go untreated; and
- More
Discovering that a loved one has been mistreated is a nightmare in itself. Learning that a loved one died because of this mistreatment is a legal issue that needs to be addressed immediately, especially if there are suspicions that abuse or neglect took place.
Figures on Deaths in Nursing Homes
- In 1999, 5,000 nursing home deaths were deemed to have derived due to negligence
- 90% of nursing homes do not have the adequate employee to resident ratio leading to more negligence and abuse cases
Unexplained Deaths FAQS
Question: How can I prove that my loved one’s death was caused by neglect or abuse?
Answer: Proving that a loved one’s unexplained death was caused by neglect or abuse might be complex, but with a skilled Miami attorney for wrongful death in professional care facilities, discovering the truth is not far-fetched. Investigations and interviews will have to be conducted.
Do You Believe that Your Loved One’s Unexplained Death Was Due to a Negligent or Abusive Individual?
If the answer is yes, then the family of the victim should seek the legal advice of the qualified team of attorneys in Miami that focus on wrongful death cases streaming from neglect or abuse within care facilities. They will provide the answers and determine whether the death of the individual was because someone was abusive or negligent.
Miami
Email: percy@percymartinezlaw.com