Table of Contents
Table of Contents
According to Fierce Healthcare, the number of doctors focusing on nursing home care increased by more than a third between 2012 and 2015. This could potentially be good because these doctors and nurses will understand the needs of elderly patients. The downside is that, unlike a primary care physician, these doctors have not witnessed their patient’s health over the course of decades and could miss critical health concerns. If you suspect that a nursing home doctor taking care of your loved one in a nursing home facility was negligent with their medical decisions, then you should contact a Miami nursing home doctor negligence lawyer about what your next steps should be.
Who is Liable for Nursing Home Negligence?
If negligent medical care results in patient injury or wrongful death, it is important the liable party be held accountable. The confusing part can be whether or not a nursing home doctor is actually an employee of the nursing home facility. It is possible that the doctor works as a contractor, which shifts liability away from the nursing home itself. Often nursing homes require their residents to see the in-house doctor instead of their primary care physician. A doctor that treats all of the patients within the nursing home may be less likely to report cases of neglect or abuse. Ideally, you would want the nursing home to be a liable party for two reasons:
- Even if the doctor is hired as an independent contractor, the nursing home has approved their work and prevented your loved one from seeing their primary care physician. Therefore, the nursing home should accept some responsibility for medical errors made by the doctor.
- Individual doctors are less likely to have adequate insurance to cover a medical malpractice lawsuit in comparison to a huge nursing home corporation.
Suffered Due to Negligent Care in a Nursing Home? Let Us Help You Seek Justice in Miami!
Common Medical Errors Made By Nursing Home Doctors
- Prescribing the wrong medications;
- Not changing a patient’s diet when they are unable to safely swallow food, causing choking;
- Delaying treatment for a UTI, which can lead to sepsis;
- Failure to treat bedsores;
- Failure to prevent or treat fall cases leading to injury; and
- More.
Oftentimes it can be difficult to immediately find the nursing home doctor at-fault because nurses and other staff help treat patients on a more regular basis. However, with the help of a skilled attorney, you can investigate the case further to determine whether the injury was caused by abuse, neglect, or medical malpractice.
We Can Help With Your Nursing Home Case
The Florida Health Care Association states that between 2015 and 2050, the age 85+ population in Florida is anticipated to more than triple. As the population within the state ages, there will need to be more doctors and nursing home facilities to care for these patients or the system will become overtaxed. Even now, it is important to monitor the care your loved one is getting within a nursing home to ensure they remain healthy. Should you suspect any abuse, neglect, or medical malpractice from the doctor, you need to speak with a qualified Miami attorney who can guide you through the legal process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Home Doctor Negligence Claims
Our firm can answer FAQs about Nursing Home Doctor Negligence in Florida, including:
How can I tell if my loved one’s Miami nursing home injuries were caused by doctor negligence or general neglect?
Distinguishing between negligence by a nursing home doctor and staff neglect requires reviewing medical records, staff notes, and treatment decisions. A Miami nursing home doctor negligence lawyer from Freidin Brown, P.A. can investigate by consulting medical experts who understand geriatric care and can pinpoint whether the harm resulted from a doctor’s misdiagnosis, medication error, or delayed treatment versus systemic understaffing or poor facility management.
What evidence is most valuable in proving doctor negligence in a Miami nursing home?
Key evidence includes medication logs, test results that were ignored, hospital transfer records, and discrepancies between the doctor’s notes and the patient’s actual health condition. Families may also rely on testimony from outside physicians who reviewed the case. Freidin Brown, P.A., nursing home doctor negligence lawyers in Miami work with medical specialists to analyze this evidence and show where the nursing home doctor deviated from accepted standards of care.
Can both the Miami nursing home and its doctor be held liable in a negligence lawsuit?
Yes. Even if a nursing home doctor is an independent contractor, facilities in Miami can still be held liable if they required residents to see that doctor or failed to supervise their work. A skilled Miami nursing home doctor negligence attorney will often pursue both the physician and the corporate nursing home entity to ensure families can access the full amount of compensation available.
What damages can families recover in a Miami nursing home doctor negligence case?
Compensation may include reimbursement for hospital bills, ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and medication costs. Families can also seek damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and in wrongful death cases, funeral expenses and loss of companionship. Freidin Brown, P.A., has recovered millions for Florida families and knows how to value both economic and non-economic damages in doctor negligence claims.
Freidin Brown, P.A.
Address: 2 S Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33131, United States
Phone: (888) 677-7764
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