Nursing Home Breathing Tube Mistakes Can Lead to Wrongful Death Claims

 Posted on April 15, 2020 in Neglect

The around-the-clock care offered by nursing homes and other long-term care facilities can be a literal lifeline for an elderly or disabled individual. Many nursing homes also provide medical care and services for people who are recovering from surgery or were otherwise hospitalized.

In some situations, a resident may be unable to breathe on his or her own. A breathing tube may be used in order to allow oxygen to flow directly to the resident’s lungs. Breathing tubes are often life-saving devices, but if one is used incorrectly, it can lead to a resident’s death.

Breathing Tube Injuries

In many cases, a breathing tube injury is the result of the breathing tube becoming clogged. If the tube is filled with saliva, phlegm, food, or another substance, the resident will not be able to breathe. Brain damage and eventually death can result from the lack of oxygen.

Nursing home staff have a legal obligation to provide competent medical care. When nursing home staff make mistakes that lead to a resident’s death, the nursing home may be legally responsible. Examples of nursing home negligence that may lead to a breathing tube injury include:

• Failure to monitor breathing tubes for cleanliness
• Failure to change out breathing tubes on a regular basis
• Failure to notice when the breathing tube becomes obstructed
• Inadequate staff training on breathing tube procedures and protocols
• Incorrect insertion of a breathing tube

When Is a Facility Liable for a Breathing Tube-Related Death?

Sometimes, the death of a nursing home resident is not preventable—even when nursing home staff members take every step possible to save the patient’s life. Unfortunately, some nursing home deaths are preventable. If you have lost a loved one due to a breathing tube problem caused by the negligence of a staff member or manager, contact an experienced personal injury attorney for help. You may be entitled to compensation for your loved one’s medical bills, funeral and burial costs, and more. Negligence could include a disregard for established protocols, a lack of proper training, or poor oversight by the facility’s directors.

Contact a Chicago Nursing Home Injury Attorney

Proving that a nursing home resident’s death could have been prevented is no easy task. You will need an attorney who has extensive experience bringing successful lawsuits against negligent nursing homes. The skilled team of personal injury lawyers at Schwartz Injury Law has secured tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients. We are known not only for our history of success but also for our dedication to families who have lost loved ones due to nursing home neglect and abuse.  To speak with an experienced Illinois wrongful death lawyer from our firm, call our office at 312-535-4625 and schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

https://time.com/5347174/breathing-machine-hospital-patients/

https://courts.illinois.gov/court/CircuitCourt/CivilJuryInstructions/190.00.pdf