Causes of Nursing Home Deaths Underreported

Dealing with the death of a loved one is always traumatic, always difficult.  When a death occurs in a nursing home, everyone is entitled to ask “Why?”  “Why did mom die” or “What caused mom to die?”  You are entitled to honest, straightforward answers.

Unfortunately, nursing homes do not always properly report causes of death.  For more than 20 years, studies have shown that nursing homes mis-report causes of death to family, even to government investigators!  Deaths are listed as “accidental” when in fact they were preventable.  Deaths are listed “natural causes” when in fact the deaths were caused by malpractice or even nursing home abuse.

What can you do if a loved one has died?  First, ask lots of questions.  You should understand what happened and why.  No matter how complicated the medical terminology, the medical staff should explain it in a way you can understand.

Second, speak with the people who actually provided the care.  Find the nurses, technologists, and lower-level staff who knew your loved one.  Ask THEM what happened.  See if that explanation matches with what the nursing home administrators tell you.

Third, follow your gut.  If you don’t believe what the nursing home personnel is telling you, dig deeper.  Chances are very good that if you are not feeling everything was right, it was not.

Finally, if you feel you are not getting the answers you deserve, contact a lawyer who can.  At Dixon Law Office, we have handled countless nursing home cases.  In nearly every case, the family was told something less than the truth about what happened to their loved one.  Dixon Law Office can force the people who failed your loved one to answer the tough questions.  They can also get your family the compensation they deserve for the loss.  Call Dixon Law Office today at 888-354-9880 or click HERE for a free consultation.