Los Angeles Stage 4 Bed Sore Lawyer

Nursing home abuse in Los Angeles County can take many different forms, from physical and emotional abuse to passive neglect. When a skilled nursing facility is understaffed or otherwise fails to provide adequate and timely care for patients, those patients can suffer debilitating and life-threatening injuries. Bed sores are common injuries that arise out of nursing home neglect. These injuries are also known as pressure ulcers. Bed sores are usually “staged” based on their severity, with stage 4 bed sores being the most severe in the number-based classification. If you or an elderly loved one was diagnosed with bed sores of any type, and especially stage 4 bed sores, as a result of nursing home negligence, it is important to speak with a Los Angeles stage 4 bed sore lawyer who can help.

What are bed sores, and what is a stage 4 bed sore in particular? As WebMD explains, these injuries occur “when you lie or sit in one position too long and the weight of your body against the surface of the bed or chair cuts off blood supply.” Pressure ulcers or bed sores are especially common among patients who are on bed rest or who are confined to a wheelchair.

Stage 4 bed sores are the most severe type of bed sore, and WebMD underscores that some of these injuries “may even affect your muscles and ligaments.” A stage 4 bed sore results in a large and deep wound, and the area will usually have obvious signs of infection. For example, the skin likely will have turned black, and the sore will have red edges, heat, pus, odor, and drainage. Since stage 4 bed sores are so severe and affect all layers of the skin, a person’s tendons, muscles, or even bone may be visible.

Stage 4 bed sores require immediate emergency treatment, and the patient may require surgery. With such a serious wound, the recovery time can range from several months to years before it heals completely. If a stage 4 bed sore is not treated, it can be fatal.

Bed sores in general result from being in one position for too long and a pressure ulcer developing, according to WebMD. In most cases involving bed sores at nursing homes, the wound results from neglect, which is why it is important to reach out to an attorney in the Los Angeles area experienced in stage 4 bed sore cases. Even if the facility did not intend to cause harm, it can be liable for bed sores arising out of passive neglect.

You may be able to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit if you or an elderly loved one developed stage 4 bed sores at a nursing home. One of our experienced Los Angeles stage 4 bed sore attorneys can begin working with you on your case today. Contact the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group today for assistance with your bed sore claim.