Our California bed sore lawyers have successfully litigated many claims against nursing homes which have failed to properly care for their patients’ health and well-being. Bed sores, also known as decubitus ulcers or pressure ulcers, can become extremely dangerous and even fatal if left untreated. If you or a loved one has suffered unnecessarily from a bed sore due to lack of proper care in a nursing home, contact a San Diego decubitus ulcer attorney from our firm today so that we may assist you with your case. Our experienced attorneys can not only help you recover compensation for your pain and suffering, but also put you in the care of the most qualified medical professionals so that you can make the speediest and most complete recovery possible. The following case example in one of particular interest and concern to our California pressure ulcer lawyers.
In October 2007, Georgia Fitsos died of acute sepsis and other complications from a bedsore “the size of a turkey platter.” The Stage 4 pressure wound had eaten deeply into her flesh. The sore was discovered two months prior to Ms. Fitsos’ death by chance when her son found her suffering from an unrelated incident of shortness of breath. The 82-year-old Fitsos was rushed to the hospital from a Folsom board-and-care home, the Broadstone Residential Facility where the pressure ulcer was eventually discovered by hospital personnel.
Due to Ms. Fitsos’ death, Broadstone’s owner and administrator, Adriana Catuna, and her husband, Viorel, are the focus of pending legal action on three fronts. A criminal trial continues in mid-September against the two for felony elder abuse, and Fitsos’ family has filed suit, claiming negligence and wrongful death, which will go to court this coming October. The Department of Social Services’ Community Care Licensing division also began license revocation proceedings this past July.
Besides the bedsore, Mercy Hospital of Folsom personnel found that Georgia Fitsos was a diabetic, had high blood-sugar levels and extremely low blood pressure. Further, in July 2007, Ms. Fitsos’ son discovered that her mom had a black eye, which she said was caused by someone hitting her. However, Broadstone staff told her son that she fell asleep sitting in her wheelchair at the dining table and hit her face on the table.
The hearts of our San Diego bed sore attorneys go out to Ms. Fitsos and her family. What is particularly unfortunate about this story is the fact that Georgia Fitsos’ son took precautions to try and make sure his mother was receiving proper care and a decent quality of life by: regularly visiting his mother, taking her out to lunch and bringing her to his house. Even these diligent measures were unable to prevent this tragic event from occurring and is a sobering reminder that elder abuse and neglect is a heartbreaking experience that blindly strikes every demographic of our nation’s elderly population. Our San Diego pressure ulcer attorneys understand that sometimes nothing can be done to avoid these disastrous situations. We know that nothing can replace a human life, but we work diligently and fight hard to bring what comfort we can to a family in this time of need.
To speak with an experienced California decubitus ulcer lawyer, call the law offices of Berman & Riedel, LLP today at (858) 350-8855. Our elder abuse attorneys will be more than happy to provide you and your family with an initial free consultation regarding any questions or concerns you may have about the care that an elderly loved one is receiving. For more information about Berman & Riedel, LLP and our San Diego bed sore attorneys, visit the firm’s main elder abuse and neglect website at www.preventelderabuse.com.
