We put a lot of trust in the health care providers that take care of our elderly family members. This is important since it gets harder to take care of older ones as they age, especially when dealing with a busy schedule. However, there is a growing problem that the elderly face – medical malpractice. What’s even more unfortunate, is the fact that much of this malpractice is intentional and abusive. If you have an elderly family member who requires care from a health provider, you may fear for their well-being and even suspect that they face such atrocious behaviour.

Fortunately, your fears don’t have to remain unaddressed. There are steps you can take to find out what takes place when your family members are in the hands of healthcare providers. If you were to find out that your relative sustained injuries from poor treatment, you can rely on medical malpractice lawyers to address the situation and put an end right away. It is completely unacceptable to have this abuse (or any form of abuse for that matter) take place, and therefore, you can be sure to have legal backing in order to free your relatives from this dilemma.

The Epidemic of Elder Abuse & Malpractice

It’s hard to imagine why a person would want to harm an elderly person. They’re vulnerable and already susceptible to injury and illness. However, we live in a society where apathetic individuals have unfortunately found their way into professions that require a profound sense of empathy. The lack of adequate screening makes it easy for doctors and nurses with a less-than-favourable temperaments to enter the profession, making Barrie retirement living negligence more common.

Two Sides of Insensitivity

The insensitivity among some of today’s doctors and nurses can take on various forms. That’s one of the reasons why it can be hard to identify individuals who shouldn’t be in the medical profession outright. Within the circle of doctors and nurses who commit these crimes, there are professionals with varying temperaments.

Traits of Abusive/Negligent Doctors and Nurses

• Overly-Aggressive – These are the doctors and nurses who are impatient and intimidating. They are the ones who raise their voices and deal harshly with elderly patients, grabbing and even hitting their patients. These individuals are more likely to commit abusive acts outright.

• Apathetic – On the other side, you have those who are not particularly aggressive, but display insensitivity in a passive manner. These are the health care providers who act blind or deaf to the complaints of elderly patients or ignore the behaviours of their more aggressive counterparts. These individuals are more likely to perform procedures negligently.

When it comes to elderly abuse, these are the two groups of people that medical malpractice lawyers usually encounter. Of course, such individuals can be more complex and indistinguishable.

The Effects of Malpractice on the Aged

As mentioned earlier, the elderly are more susceptible to injury due to their age. Also, the fact that they are in a healthcare facility, whether it’s a hospital or a nursing home, means that they are in a state that requires a gentle and supportive treatment. Therefore, when elderly patients receive harsh treatment, the extent of their illnesses and injuries are amplified.

The Health Effects of Malpractice & Abuse

• Physical Pains – When the malpractice or abuse is physical, elderly patients will usually experience physical pain. This can result from the various ill-practices, including deliberate abuse, inadequate treatment/care, and the negligent administration of medications. Complications can arise from poorly performed medical procedures and this could lead to a rapid decline in a patient’s well-being.

• Visible Trauma – This is one of the easiest ways to tell if a loved one is facing abuse. The sight of bruises, scars, sprains, and even broken bones can reveal the possibility of abuse on the part of a doctor or nurse.

• Weakened Cognition – Another dangerous effect of malpractice and abuse is a decline in cognitive function. Victims of abuse will often see a sharp drop in their concentration, memory, and ability to reason. It is also common to see such individuals see worsening in dementia symptoms.

• Emotional Turmoil – One of the most unfortunate effects of malpractice are the emotional problems. Depression and anxiety are common in elderly patients who are abused, and these emotional problems can lead to an even faster physical decline.

What to Do if it Affects You

If you can recognize some of the above-mentioned signs in your elderly family members, then you should continue to watch closely – even try to investigate what’s taking place. It’s important that you make the effort to do so since elderly patients may be too fearful to tell you how they feel, or may not even realize what is taking place.

• Keep Your Senses Tuned – If you have a suspicion that malpractice or abuse is taking place, then it’s important to pay attention to your surroundings. First and foremost, look for unusual physical signs when you visit your elderly loved one. Do they have unusual marks or bruises that weren’t there before? Are they complaining of symptoms they never had before? Also, listen to how the nursing staff deals with other patients. Do they speak with an irritated or aggressive tone? Are they sarcastic with these patients? All of these signs can give hints as to what takes place when you’re not around.

• Call in a Medical Malpractice Lawyer – If signs of negligence or abuse are apparent, then you should contact a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible (such as Wynperle Law in Hamilton, Ontario, 25 Main St. West, Suite 400, L8P 1H1, 1-866-696-0300). When abuse and neglect takes place in a hospital or nursing home, it usually takes place over a long period of time and little effort is made to end it. Of course, you don’t want your loved ones to endure ill-treatment, so calling in a lawyer to investigate and prosecute those involved with medical malpractice can resolve the issue.

Protect Your Loved Ones from Malpractice

Don’t let the suspicion of negligence or abuse slip away as an exaggerated concern. If you notice that there are signs which point to behaviour or practices that seem unusual, then it’s worth your time to look further into the issue. There’s place for remaining idle. Always keep track of your family member’s condition and don’t be afraid to ask the nursing and medical staff questions. You might be able to discern the true nature of the situation by noticing discrepancies between their answers and how your family member feels. If abuse or neglect seems likely, then don’t hesitate to hire a medical malpractice lawyer who can help you and your family put an end to the worry. Not only will you help your own loved ones, but taking action may expose widespread behaviour in a facility and thus save the lives of countless others.