New York City Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Research indicates that about 2.5 million people in the United States develop bedsores each year. Bedsores are also known as pressure ulcers, and they form when someone’s position in a bed or wheelchair is not regularly adjusted. When someone develops bedsores, they then require additional treatment to resolve the problem and prevent complications. Researchers estimate that bedsore treatment costs billions of dollars annually.

Some of the common causes of bedsores include the following:

• Staff members fail to turn a patient over or move them every two hours
• Facilities do not have pressure-relieving mattresses
• No cushioning was provided to relieve pressure
• Patients do not have their bedding or clothing changed or kept dry
• Patients are not properly nourished and hydrated
• Staff members fail to properly inspect patients for redness or other signs of forming ulcers
• Staff members do not provide treatment for existing bedsores

Bedsores are preventable, yet they continue to occur in hospitals and nursing homes on a regular basis, increasing the medical bills of patients and causing them unnecessary pain. In some cases, bedsores can become infected and can even be fatal if not treated. Bedsores should not happen, and when they do, patients can hold negligent medical providers and facilities liable for medical malpractice.