A male patient with a malignant spinal cord tumor was hospitalized and unable to ambulate independently. During his approximately six-week stay for treatment, his family discovered a severe, unstageable pressure ulcer at the base of his spine. Despite the patient’s inability to walk and reliance on hospital staff for turning and repositioning, there was no documentation in the medical records indicating that he was being properly assessed for skin breakdown or receiving adequate preventive care.
The patient eventually recovered enough to return home, but he endured extreme pain during the lengthy healing process, which required treatment with a wound vac. Our firm litigated the case against the hospital staff responsible for his care, successfully securing a sizeable settlement to compensate the patient for his suffering and inadequate treatment.
Type of Medical Malpractice: Failure to Prevent and Treat Pressure Ulcer
Standard of Care Issues:
- Regular assessment and documentation of patients at risk for skin breakdown
- Proper preventive care and timely intervention to avoid pressure ulcers
- Adequate monitoring and repositioning of non-ambulatory patients