Q: I suspect my Dad might be being given too much medication at his senior home
- he seems pretty out of it. If I can prove that's the case, can I sue them?
A:
Over medication of nursing home patients is a major problem. In some instances facilities intentionally provide the medication to sedate patients and make them easier to care for. In other instances, the over-medication may be less intentional-- in either respect, the over-medication of nursing home patients is a problem and is unacceptable.
Determining if you should file a lawsuit against a facility is something that needs to be discussed with your family and an attorney. Unfortunately, there are many errors made with respect to the care of patients, but they may not necessarily require merit the filing of a nursing home negligence lawsuit as the damages may not merit the investment of time and money. Obviously, a determination needs to be made to see how your father is doing. Good luck to you.
A: In any case of negligence or abuse, the element of damages must also be present. For now I would encourage you to advise the nursing home director that your dad is being over medicated or at least seems to be. Find out what doses of medication are being given and why. Your father's doctor should be called to learn about the dosage of medication he/she has been prescribing and why.
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