Mom was admitted to nursing home for care for two weeks when she had a mysterious "fall".....well the male nurse said she rolled out of bed evidently. She sustained a severe bruise on her forehead and back of head as well as broken ribs. The coroners report said she died of blunt force trauma to the head causing 3 brain hemorrhages.
The nursing home did not seek medical help but just held ice on her head. After 16 hours they sent her to the hospital when she could not speak or open her eyes.
The "facts" from the home have changed 4 times. One entire set of her clothing is missing and we were not informed until the following day and then told numerous times she was fine and "do not come to the nursing home she is fine." She wasn't she died 8 days later.
They were going to charge me for holding her bed for her but then decided to hold it for free, they have failed to bill her insurance for the two weeks she was a patient there, and everything is just screaming "FOUL PLAY." What do I do now? I feel so guilty for ever putting her in this home even though they seemed like a good place. So many people in the hospital told us that Mom did NOT JUST ROLL OUT OF BED AND SUSTAIN THESE INJURIES!
I feel like we owe it to her to follow this up but how???? Police??? Attorney???
I have heard from so many different people that it is very easy to hurt especially patients with memory problems because the staff counts on them forgetting the facts of what has happened.
The more I think about it, the angrier I become, knowing someone could have hurt her on purpose.
I need advice please.
Try not to torture yourself with fears that these injuries might have been inflicted intentionally. What possible motive would there be for that? However, it does reek of chaotic negligence and that is why I agree you should seek advice from a specialist attorney. Just remember that your goal is not blood, or money, or anyone's head on a plate, but a clear and frank account of what exactly happened. You are entitled to demand that your mind is set at rest.
All that said, great advice to run it by a medical malpractice attorney. Especially if it will bring you some closure. It won't bring Mom back, but if it truly was malpractice or worse could save someone else.