Clogged Breathing Tubes and Other Mistakes Caused by Nursing Home Negligence

 Posted on April 07, 2025 in Nursing Home Abuse

The degree of care and medical intervention nursing home residents need varies dramatically. Some residents are able to walk, talk, eat, and perform most functions with little assistance from staff. Others are completely immobile and require machines to keep them alive.

Breathing tubes are often used to supply a resident with oxygen. The breathing tube is attached to a ventilator and serves as an artificial airway for people who cannot breathe on their own. Just like an obstruction in a throat, an obstruction in a breathing tube can prevent the resident from getting enough oxygen. Severe and fatal injuries can be caused by breathing tube clogs and other mistakes.

At Schwartz Injury Law, our Chicago, IL nursing home neglect attorneys can investigate the cause behind a breathing tube injury. We will fight to hold the negligent parties accountable, building a case to prove that the nursing home was at fault for your loved one’s injury. Our lawyers can help you pursue compensation for damages related not only to the resident’s medical care but pain and suffering as well.

Breathing Tube Injuries

Individuals in long-term care facilities sometimes rely on breathing tubes and ventilators to live. It is essential that nursing home staff closely monitor residents with breathing tubes because even a minor mishap can mean the difference between life and death. When staff do not promptly and adequately address breathing tube problems, the resident may suffer brain damage or death.

Improper breathing tube insertion, supervision, or maintenance can cause:

• Clogged breathing tubes that cut off oxygen to the resident

• Pneumothorax which is a painful condition caused by air leaking into the chest cavity

• Lung damage caused by excessive pressure on the lungs

• Dislodged breathing tubes which do not allow the resident to breathe normally

• Damage to the resident’s vocal cords

• Bacteria and other pathogens that enter the resident’s lungs leading to potentially deadly infections

At Schwartz Injury Law, we have guided many clients through cases involving breathing tube injuries and the long-lasting health consequences they can have. We will take the time to understand how badly your loved one was hurt to get an estimate for the value of your claim.

The Causes of Breathing Tube Damages

Negligent care at a nursing home may be caused by several issues including staffing shortages, poor staff training, or carelessness. If you can prove that the nursing home was negligent in its care, you may have a strong case to file a personal injury claim against the facility.

Our lawyers are prepared to launch a deep investigation into the incident that resulted in your loved one’s injury. Witness testimony, photos, and camera footage can show that proper breathing tube procedures were not followed. This could indicate that staff were undertrained or not equipped to respond appropriately.

As an example, an insufficiently trained staff member could insert the breathing tube with too much force, leading to injured vocal cords.

Understaffing often plays a large role in nursing home injuries as well, including breathing tube injuries. Residents attached to a breathing apparatus need to be placed under careful watch in case the tube becomes dislodged or clogged. If there is not enough staff available to monitor all of the residents, critical signs of distress can go unnoticed. At Schwartz Injury Law, we can review a nursing home’s reported staff numbers and compare them against daily operations to look for any discrepancies.

Holding a Nursing Home Accountable for Breathing Tube Mistakes

Breathing tube mistakes can cause significant harm and can even be catastrophic. Human brains can only go a few minutes without oxygen before irreversible brain damage occurs. If a breathing tube becomes displaced or clogged, it could lead to severe brain damage or death for a nursing home resident. Other breathing tube mistakes can cause avoidable pain and suffering as well as severe infections. Identifying these damages is critical for getting the most out of your claim.

If your loved one was the victim of a breathing tube mistake while living in a nursing home, you may be able to hold the nursing home responsible for the harm your loved one suffered due to the negligent care. A nursing home injury or wrongful death claim might also allow for the recovery of damages. Residents and their loved ones may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and more.

At Schwartz Injury Law, we can meet with you individually to discuss your options for holding the negligent nursing facility accountable. We will walk you through the steps of filing a claim to shield you from liability.

Getting Compensation for Your Loved One’s Damages

Filing a claim against a nursing home for a breathing tube injury should be a straightforward process. Unfortunately, nursing homes often go to great lengths to avoid paying for damages, even when there is clear evidence of fault. Our lawyers are ready to fight for the resolution and outcome that your family deserves.

Having an attorney at your side can make a significant difference as you try to negotiate for a fair settlement. If you say anything that could be interpreted as an admission of guilt, your claim could be harmed or outright denied. At Schwartz Injury Law, we can handle all communication on your behalf with the nursing home and its insurers to protect you from liability.

If negotiations reach a standstill where the nursing home is unwilling to pay your family a full settlement, you can take your claim to the courts to petition a judge for a favorable ruling. At Schwartz Injury Law, we have extensive trial experience, and we are not afraid to take nursing facilities to court to fight for the compensation you are entitled to.

Contact a Chicago, IL Breathing Tube Injury Lawyer

Breathing tube injuries can have long-lasting, life-threatening health consequences for elderly nursing home residents. At Schwartz Injury Law, we believe that negligent care facilities should be held responsible for preventable accidents. Our Cook County, IL nursing home neglect lawyers pursue justice on behalf of injured nursing home residents and their families. Call our office today at 312-535-4625 to schedule a free consultation. When you do, you will get to speak with a real lawyer, not some intake service, so we can hear about your case and you can learn more about our services.