Oregon Injury Lawyer Blog

A California nursing home has been ordered to pay the largest fines allowed under state law following the death of a patient. For us here in Oregon this nursing home neglect and abuse case, though it comes from out-of-state, serves as a powerful reminder of the important role courts and regulators play in keeping watch over those charged with helping vulnerable seniors.

According to a report in the Orange County Register the case stems from the death of 93-year-old Donald Bodkin, who, the paper reports, “died in September from an undetected ruptured intestinal ulcer and infection.” Bodkin was not a long-time resident of the home but, rather, had checked in only a few weeks earlier for a temporary stay while recovering from hip surgery.

The paper reports that the state believes the home did not assess Bodkin’s condition properly, failed to tell his doctor once the symptoms became obvious and ignored warnings from both family members and an occupational therapist “that he was lethargic and in pain.” The nursing home has expressed regret for Bodkin’s death but said in a statement that it does not believe the actions of any of its staff “caused or contributed to this unfortunate event.”

This tragedy is a reminder of how important it is for state governments to supervise nursing homes and for our courts to enforce the rules and regulations government puts in place to protect our seniors. When Oregon nursing home neglect or abuse take place and the people charged with helping our loved ones through their final years fail to perform their jobs, an Oregon nursing home abuse attorney can help families and other loved ones win justice.

Orange County Register: Nursing Home fined in Patient Death

With recent statistical reports demonstrating that elder abuse is a rising problem here in the United States, media reports here in Oregon indicate that officials at the state Department of Human Services fear our state may have become part of this disturbing trend.

According to a recent article published in The Daily Astorian, “national studies estimate 3 to 5 million seniors, aged 65 and older, have experienced abuse – but only 1 in 5 cases are reported.” Adult Protective Services agents are asking family members to keep an eye out for signs of trouble, particularly as we enter the holiday season.

Elder Abuse can take many forms, and need not be physical in nature. As an information page at the Oregon Department of Human Services’ website (see link below) outlines, Oregon elder abuse can take many forms. These may involve Oregon medical malpractice or nursing home neglect, but can also include financial exploitation or psychological and emotional trauma.

As the news website MyCentralOregon.com notes, “approximately 13% of Oregon’s population is now 65 years or older, with nearly 76,000 Oregonians having reached 85.” Those numbers speak to a need for redoubled vigilance on the part of the younger generation now charged with the care of aging parents.

If you feel that a loved one has been the victim of Oregon elder abuse or neglect, or of Oregon medical malpractice you owe it to yourself as well as the rest of your family to speak with a Portland medical malpractice attorney at the earliest possible opportunity. Because the definition of elder abuse can be so broad, and because medical malpractice can often be an extremely complicated charge to prove, skilled legal representation is essential at every stage of the process.

My CentralOregon.com: DHS: Elder Abuse An Underreported, Growing Problem

Daily Astorian: Abuse of elderly prompts warning

Resource:
Oregon Department of Human Services information page: Abuse & neglect of seniors and people with disabilities