Bautista LeRoy Law Firm can offer professional assistance if you suspect nursing home overmedication. Our attorneys at the Kansas City Metropolitan Area offer expert legal assistance for personal injury cases that range from car, railroad, truck and motorcycle accidents to elder abuse or neglect in nursing homes. As such, our services have earned the trust of those we represent.

This article details why nursing homes overmedicate, how to recognize its signs and what legal options exist should a loved one become affected.

Why Are Nursing Homes Overmedication Patients?

Overmedicating residents is unfortunately all too prevalent among nursing homes. Numerous factors play a part, including:

• Staff Shortages and Overwork
• Lack of Proper Training
• Cost-Cutting Measures
• Misuse of Drugs as Chemical Restraints

What Are the Signs of Overmedication in Nursing Homes?

Early identification of possible overmedication is important. There are various indicators for which family should watch out.

• Excessive drowsiness or lethargy
• Disorientation
• Loss of coordination or frequent falls
• Unexplained agitation
• Severe constipation
• Difficulty breathing
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Lack of engagement

Can I Sue A Nursing Home for Overmedication?

Your loved one could be suffering serious harm as the result of overmedication at a nursing home care setting, providing grounds for litigation against such facilities.

Such cases fall under medical malpractice or nursing home negligence law and must demonstrate how nursing homes breached their duty by giving excessive dosage, leading to injury. Expert medical testimony could be required in such a suit to establish the connection between negligence and injury.

Why Is Hiring A Personal Injury Attorney Beneficial?

Nursing home negligence cases can be complex proceedings. Personal injury attorneys offer invaluable assistance. Here's why:

• Legal Expertise
• Access to Experts
• Protecting Your Rights
• Maximizing Compensation

When Should An Attorney Be Hired?

As soon as you suspect that a nursing facility may be overmedicating its residents or experiencing sudden decline, contact a personal injury attorney immediately.

Statutes of limitation - often known as time limits for legal claims - differ between states and delaying legal action may weaken or preclude its pursuit. Early involvement in investigations can provide residents with protection and improve nursing home environments.

What Criteria Must Be Considered To Hire An Effective Attorney?

• Specialization: Hire an attorney with expertise in nursing home negligence who understands its nuances.
• Track Record: Choose an attorney with experience settling and winning nursing home negligence cases.
• Communication: Your attorney should keep you up to date and treat your loved ones with respect.

Why Choose Bautista LeRoy LLC?

Bautista LeRoy is an established law firm dedicated to serving residents in nursing homes who have experienced overmedication or negligence. We recognize the burden this situation puts on families. Therefore, our legal expertise combined with compassion ensures an individualized solution.

Our attorneys prioritize communicating clearly with clients throughout each stage of the legal process. Not only can we seek justice on behalf of victims but we hold nursing home facilities responsible to help prevent future incidents from repeating.

Suggested Action Steps

• Keep detailed records of medications, behaviors and interactions with staff.
• Request a list of medicines the nursing home provided and an explanation for why each one is necessary.
• Notify the management immediately of any concerns within a nursing home.
• Seek advice from another doctor concerning your loved one's medication.
• An experienced personal injury attorney is invaluable when it comes to protecting the rights of loved ones.

Overmedication can be a subtle but serious form of elder neglect that often goes undetected. To protect your loved one's dignity and wellbeing, early identification of signs of mistreatment is imperative and legal options should also be explored. Contact us today at 816-221-0382 or send us an email on our Contact Page. Serving Kansas City, MO and KS as well as surrounding areas of Benton County and St. Louis.

Summary

Overmedication is a very harmful medical malpractice. In nursing homes, overmedication has become an increasingly common issue of negligence that harms elderly residents on a very significant level. Resulting from inadequate staffing, poor oversight, or failure to monitor residents'  physical and mental conditions, overmedication is a serious violations of neglect. Overmedication occurs when a resident is given:

• incorrect dosages
• unnecessary medication
• dangerous drug combinations 

Because of age-related issues in metabolism, coupled with the frequent presence of multiple chronic conditions, elderly residents are particularly vulnerable to overmedication. Psychotropic drugs, for example, are often misused in nursing homes in order to control the behavior of a person rather than to sincerely treat legitimate medical conditions. Legally and ethically, this raises a very serious question. Some of the serious effects of excessive or inappropriate medications are: 

• dizziness and loss of balance
• confusion and disorientation
• slowed reaction to time
• memory loss
• cognitive impairment
• sedation or excessive drowsiness
• respiratory depression or difficulty breathing
• increased risk of falls and fractures
• heart rhythm abnormalities
• low or high blood pressure
• nausea, constipation, or vomiting
• organ damage (especially liver and kidneys)
• fatigue and weakness
• aggression and agitation
• reduced independence and mobility
• emotional blunting
• increased risk of hospitalization or death