If My Loved One Is Injured By an At-Home Care Worker, Can I Sue?

Abuse by a medical care provider should not be tolerated, whether it is by an at-home care worker or a nursing home employee.

This includes incidents of employees attacking residents or patients, as healthcare providers have a duty to keep potentially violent individuals off their workforce. If a nursing home or homecare company fails to protect its patients from assaults, then it should be held liable for carelessness.

A troubling New Jersey case of alleged abuse recently involved an at-home nurse who has been accused of causing third-degree burns to over 20 percent of the body of a 20-month-old girl.

According to WABC-TV, the mother of Destiny Abdelmalek said her daughter has burns all over her body, because the nurse hired to care for her placed her in a scalding hot bath. The girl, who required at-home care because she was premature, reportedly suffered critical injuries requiring long-term hospital care.

The nurse involved in the incident, 30-year-old Ellen Ejimkanye, has been charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child and child abuse. She has also been ordered to turn in her nursing license.

Although prosecutors do not believe the scalding was intentional, the case is an example of severe negligence.

What Should I Do If My Loved One Is a Victim of Nursing Home Abuse in New York or New Jersey?

If a healthcare provider fails to protect its people from assaults or recklessly injures someone, then it should be held liable for carelessness. Aside from assault or abuse, other signs of negligence include bedsores, malnutrition or dehydration, head injuries and infections.

If your loved one has endured a heinous attack or experienced abuse while in the care of a medical provider, contact our experienced NJ personal injury attorneys.

Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. – Bergen County Injury Lawyers

KGG’s Corner: It is estimated that only 1 in 14 cases of nursing home abuse is reported to authorities.

Source: http://7online.com/news/nurse-charged-after-18-month-old-gets-third-degree-burns-from-bath/105231/