Champaign Clogged Breathing Tubes Lawyer
The thought of placing your loved one in a nursing home is likely stressful. It can be devastating to learn that your loved one died in that nursing home due to the negligence of the facility and its staff. Some nursing home residents die because their breathing tubes get clogged. Death from a clogged breathing tube is like choking, which deprives the brain of enough oxygen leading to irreversible brain damage. While death from a clogged breathing tube can be accidental, the nursing home can still be held liable, particularly if it is determined that the blockage resulted from their failure to monitor the patient. The nursing home can also be liable if they are responsible for creating the blockage.
Residents who use breathing tubes need to be monitored closely because their lives depend on the proper functioning of those tubes. The moment the tube malfunctions, the patient will pass out in less than two minutes, and what follows is death. If this has happened to your loved one, you need the services of an attorney from Patel Law, P.C. to pursue the compensation you and your family deserve for your losses.
Why Some Residents Need Breathing Tubes
A nursing home resident may need a breathing tube for various reasons. For example, the breathing tube may be needed after certain surgical operations to aid with the patient’s recovery.
Another condition that may require an endotracheal tube is when a patient suffers from a tracheal infection or any condition that interferes with normal breathing. Other patients just need the tubes to ensure they get enough oxygen. Even ordinary conditions like pneumonia or bronchiolitis may necessitate intubation.
Breathing tubes form part of the treatment procedure for many conditions including ALS, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, brain conditions, and certain cancers. In all these treatments, the breathing tube becomes the lifeline for the affected residents. That is why the tube must be kept clear and functioning 24/7.
In case the tubes develop a problem, the nursing home staff must act quickly to save the life of the patient and prevent extensive brain damage. Anything less than that is unacceptable.
Champaign Nursing Homes Staff Have a Legal Obligation to Prevent Breathing Tubes From Clogging
After intubation, most people will find it difficult to talk, with some being unable to communicate at all. This means the patient is highly vulnerable when the tube gets clogged. The nursing home staff, caregivers, or other employees should have enough training to identify a patient whose breathing tube is clogged. Specifically, they should be on the lookout for the following signs:
- Any changes in the patient’s demeanor or health
- Vital signs
- Distress signs
- Discomfort
- Choking
- Pulmonary or respiratory problems
The nursing home staff or the nursing home itself can face legal action if the staff/caregiver fails to identify these problems in time. The same is also the case if the staff identifies these signs but fails to act appropriately.
Residents of a nursing home require the utmost care and respect. They might be our parents, brothers, grandparents, or close relatives. You have the right to demand the best treatment for them, and there is no excuse a nursing home can give for failing to do so. It is their responsibility to employ qualified staff to take care of your elderly loved ones.
Patel Law, P.C. Can Help You
When your loved one dies in a nursing home because of a clogged breathing tube, the staff at the facility may try to find an excuse for explaining the death. That is why you need to work with an attorney from Patel Law, P.C. in pursuing a personal injury claim. We are experienced in handling cases of negligence by nursing home employees. You can count on our attorneys to tirelessly seek justice for your family until you get the compensation you deserve for your losses. We have a dedicated team that is experienced in working with victims of nursing home mistreatment and negligence.
Call or Contact Our Office Now
The death of a loved one is always painful, especially when it should have been prevented — like in a situation involving clogged breathing tubes. If your loved one has died in a nursing home as a result of a clogged breathing tube, contact us immediately.
The longer you wait, the higher the chances of the treatment facility meddling up with the evidence of their negligence or mistreatment. We will do everything legally possible to hold the nursing home liable.
