Did your loved one develop sepsis as a resident in a nursing home? Sepsis is the body’s life-threatening response to infections, and unfortunately, it is often the result of untreated wounds, poor hygiene, or medical neglect. This is especially common in long-term care facilities.
When sepsis occurs in a nursing home, serious concerns arise about the quality of care and safety protocols that are in place. Sometimes, it’s more so the case that the nursing home lacks both of those requirements altogether, hence the sepsis.
If you suspect negligence, a nursing home sepsis lawyer in Rome can help. At Schenk Nursing Home Abuse Law, we have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for people in situations just like yours. Let us represent you as your Rome nursing home abuse lawyer.
Legal Standards of Care in Georgia Nursing Homes
In Georgia, nursing homes in Rome and everywhere else in the state are required to provide care that maintains or enhances each resident’s quality of life. They are also responsible for preventing avoidable declines in the health of their residents.
Facilities must uphold the following responsibilities:
- Maintain infection control programs
- Monitor residents for changes in condition
- Provide prompt medical treatment for infections
- Implement and update individualized care plans
- Follow standards for wound care and hygiene
- Maintain adequate staffing levels
Failure to meet any of these obligations may be considered a breach of the duty of care that they owe their residents. When this breach leads to sepsis, it can form the basis of a negligence or wrongful death claim.
Georgia law defines negligence as the failure to exercise ordinary care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances.
In the context of nursing homes, this means that staff and administrators must act as trained medical caregivers in compliance with both clinical and legal standards.
Common Signs of Sepsis Often Missed in Nursing Homes
A rather troubling aspect of sepsis in long-term care is that the symptoms of this condition can be overlooked with ease, especially in elderly residents who have communication difficulties, a dementia diagnosis, or chronic illnesses.
In many Georgia nursing homes, understaffing or inadequate training are two main factors that can result in these warning signs going unnoticed until it’s too late.
That’s why it’s important to understand the early signs of sepsis:
- Fever, chills, or a drop in body temperature
- Rapid heart rates
- Confusion or disorientation
- Low blood pressure
- Decreased urine output
- Shortness of breath
- Extreme pain or discomfort
When a nursing home fails to monitor residents for these symptoms or does not seek out emergency care immediately, the outcome can be fatal. Under Georgia law, lapses in judgment like these may be viewed as gross negligence or reckless disregard for a resident’s safety.
Rome Nursing Home Sepsis Lawyer Near Me (678) 823-7678
Investigating Sepsis-Related Deaths in Georgia Nursing Homes
When a nursing home resident dies from sepsis, the death certificate might list conditions like natural causes or infections as the reason for the person’s death. Unfortunately, families are not always told the full story when their loved ones pass away from sepsis in a nursing home.
In Georgia, facilities are required to report unexpected or suspicious deaths to the Department of Community Health and the local coroner. In cases of known abuse or neglect, mandatory reporters—such as nurses or aides—must also notify Adult Protective Services.
The investigation into a sepsis-related death typically involves:
- Reviewing medical records
- Analyzing staff documentation and incident reports
- Examining state inspection findings
- Interviewing staff or witnesses
- Obtaining autopsy or toxicology reports, if available
Civil Claims Involving Sepsis in Georgia
In Georgia, civil claims involving nursing home neglect are typically pursued under theories of negligence, wrongful death, or medical malpractice. These claims must show that the following details were true at the time of the resident’s passing:
- The nursing home owed a duty of care to the resident
- The facility breached that duty through action or inaction
- The breach directly caused the resident’s sepsis or death
- The damages resulted from the injury or loss of a loved one
The statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases in Georgia is two years from the date of the loved one’s injury or death. However, there might be exceptions to this timeline based on the details of your case.
Certain cases involving ongoing neglect or delayed discovery may be subject to different timelines. When sepsis occurs in a nursing home setting, medical records often reveal a pattern of declining condition, missed medications, delayed treatment, and lack of documentation.
These patterns can form the basis of legal accountability when they contribute to serious injury or death. Your nursing home sepsis lawyers in Rome will explain the timeline that applies to your case and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines when pursuing legal action.
Contact Our Nursing Home Sepsis Law Firm in Rome Today
If your loved one suffered from sepsis while living in a Georgia nursing home, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to carry the weight of this experience all by yourself. This kind of neglect is heartbreaking, but there are steps you can take to hold the facility accountable.
It all starts with reaching out to Schenk Nursing Home Abuse Law as soon as possible. When you call our Rome nursing home sepsis law firm, our attorneys are ready to help you. Your family deserves answers, justice, and protection.
Don’t wait to get in touch. The sooner you contact us, the sooner our attorneys can review the details of your case and help you take action on behalf of your loved one.