Jury Punishes Nursing Home Where Man Develops More Than 20 Decubitus Ulcers

By Nursing Home Law Center

When people actually see the gruesome photos of rotting flesh on a person’s backside hear about the ongoing medical procedures that are necessary to heal the wound, they begin to understand the real impact of this medical condition.

Along these lines, an obviously compassionate jury awarded the family of a deceased nursing home patient more than $20M. The New York Post reported that the Brooklyn jury’s award was comprised of $3.75 for the man’s pain and suffering and a hefty $15 million in punitive damages.

Declining Condition

According to the man’s daughter’s Margaret Whitehurst, the man rapidly declined during his nine month admission to Brooklyn Queens Nursing Home. “He walked in on two legs and a cane. He was 237 pounds. When we got him back, he was 148 pounds and had holes all over his body”.

Altered Medical Records

In addition to hearing testimony regarding severe bed sores (also called: decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers or pressure sores), the jury also heard from an expert witness who testified about how the nursing home altered the man’s medical records to make it appear as though he entered the facility with bed sores.

Related

• Where can I learn more about the laws applicable to people who develop bed sores in nursing homes or hospitals?
• If a lawsuit or claim is filed against a facility where a person developed bed sores, what type of damages is the person entitled to?
• Does the family of a deceased person who had bed sores at the time of his death have any legal recourse against the facility where the wounds developed?
• Nursing Home Injury Laws: New York