Claimants must establish that the physician breached their duty by acting negligently, such as failing to get informed consent, ignoring patient history, or failing to provide appropriate follow-up care. Common examples of breaches of duty by medical personnel include:

• Prescribing an incorrect medication or dosage
• Failing to diagnose a health issue promptly or entirely
• Discharging a patient from a medical facility prematurely
• Failing to review a patient’s history or current medications
• Disregarding, overlooking, or misreading test, lab, or imaging results

Finally, the injured patient must show they suffered harm as a result of the doctor’s negligence. If there are no losses to be compensated, the medical malpractice claim will be dismissed or denied. “Harm” encompasses a wide range of injuries, and it’s important to note that this includes both physical and mental health conditions, in addition to emotional implications.

There are two primary types of damages that can be recovered in medical malpractice cases. They include:

1. Economic Damages: These damages are financial losses suffered by the victim as a direct result of the medical malpractice incident. These damages are quantifiable and typically involve tangible costs, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation therapy.
2. Non-Economic Damages: Also referred to as general damages, non-economic damages are meant to compensate the victim for intangible losses that are more difficult to quantify, such as emotional distress, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and scarring or disfigurement.

Causation is a crucial element that must be proven to hold a healthcare provider liable for medical malpractice in Florida. It establishes a direct link between the healthcare provider's negligence or breach of duty and the harm suffered by the patient.

Causation essentially means showing that the negligent actions or omissions of the healthcare provider were the cause of the patient's injuries or worsened their condition. Without establishing causation, claimants fail to prove that the healthcare provider's negligence directly led to the harm suffered by the patient.

Sexual abuse in nursing homes is a deeply disturbing type of elder abuse that involves non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an elderly person, such as:

• Forced involvement in sexual interactions
• Taking explicit photographs without consent
• Making unwelcome sexual comments

This type of nursing home abuse includes sexual acts with individuals incapable of legally consenting due to their health or mental capacity. Victims of sexual abuse often struggle to disclose such incidents due to fear, shame, or cognitive difficulties, making detection and prevention challenging.

Some common signs of sexual abuse in nursing homes include:

• New and unexplained sexually transmitted diseases
• Injuries to the genital area, such as bruises, bleeding, torn clothing, or stained undergarments
• Sudden changes in behavior, such as increased agitation or withdrawal from social activities

Financial abuse is a serious but often overlooked form of nursing home abuse. Also known as economic abuse, financial abuse entails inappropriate use of an elderly person's funds, property, or other financial resources without their consent.

This form of abuse often occurs in nursing homes when caregivers or other unscrupulous individuals exploit the vulnerability and trust of the elderly for personal gain. Common examples of financial abuse in nursing homes include:

Due to dementia, cognitive impairments, or related health conditions, victims of financial abuse are often unaware that the abuse is occurring at all, making it all the more vital for their loved ones to know the warning signs and secure representation as soon as possible if financial abuse is suspected.

Emotional abuse, also known as psychological abuse, can lead to serious harm for elderly victims in Florida. While many assume emotional abuse isn’t as harmful as other forms of nursing home abuse, such as physical or sexual abuse, research indicates that emotional abuse can be just as harmful, if not more so, than other types.

Emotional abuse can be verbal—such as direct threats, intimidation, humiliation, and name-calling—or nonverbal, such as isolating an elderly person from their friends or activities. Common examples of emotional abuse in nursing homes include:

In assisted living facilities, physical abuse entails using force against an elderly resident, resulting in physical pain, injury, or impairment. Common examples of physical abuse in nursing homes include:

It's imperative for individuals and families in Panama City to know the common warning signs of physical abuse to prevent serious harm to themselves or an elderly loved one. If you suspect nursing home abuse, seeking sound counsel from a trusted lawyer is vital to protecting your family's safety and demanding justice and compensation from liable parties.

Elder neglect, often a silent form of elder abuse, occurs when nursing home personnel fail to fulfill their caregiving obligations by depriving elderly residents of basic needs, such as:

Neglect can be intentional, such as direct harm or gross negligence, or unintentional, such as ignorance or inability to provide adequate care. This type of nursing home abuse can leave victims at high risk of health complications and a diminished quality of life. Warning signs often include malnutrition, bedsores, poor personal hygiene, unattended medical needs, and unusual weight loss.

Physical abuse in nursing homes refers to any intentional physical harm or pain inflicted on a resident. It encompasses various acts, such as hitting, slapping, pushing, and the inappropriate use of drugs, restraints, or confinement.

Common signs of physical abuse in nursing homes include:

In nursing homes, physical harm is often accompanied by emotional trauma, which serves to worsen the harmful effects of the abuse on elderly victims. Our nursing home abuse attorneys understand the gravity of these situations and strive relentlessly to bring the culprits to justice, ensuring the safety and well-being of our clients in Marianna.

Sexual abuse in nursing homes constitutes any form of non-consensual sexual contact, behavior, or exploitation of a nursing home resident. It could range from inappropriate touching to severe offenses like rape. Indicators can include:

Sexual abuse is a deep violation of individuals’ bodily autonomy that leaves profound psychological scars on victims. Our nursing home abuse lawyers are committed to holding perpetrators accountable for their heinous acts against the elderly.

Psychological or emotional abuse is any action that inflicts distress, mental pain, or fear in a resident. It can be verbal (such as yelling, threats, and constant criticism) or non-verbal, such as ignoring the resident, isolating them from others, or denying them basic needs.

Although signs of emotional abuse can be difficult to detect, some common indicators include:

The emotional toll this form of abuse takes on victims can be devastating, and our Marianna nursing home negligence lawyers are dedicated to uncovering these hidden abuses and advocating for the rights of elders to live a life of dignity and respect.

Also known as economic abuse, financial abuse in nursing homes entails the illegal or unauthorized use of a resident's funds, properties, or assets without their consent. It can manifest in various forms, such as:

Although identifying financial abuse can be challenging, common signs include irregularities in financial transactions, sudden changes in a will or estate, or unexplained disappearances of funds or valuables are common signs. It’s imperative to consult with a nursing home abuse lawyer who can help detect nursing home abuse and pursue justice for victims.