Understanding Gangrene: A Guide for Nursing Home Residents and Families
One of the most serious nursing home injuries that a St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyer deals with is gangrene.
Gangrene is often preventable. However, if it is not treated properly, the condition can lead to serious permanent injuries and even death. That is why if you suspect that a loved one suffers from gangrene due to the negligence of a nursing home, you will want to talk to a St. Petersburg nursing home abuse attorney to learn about your options.
What Is Gangrene?
As a St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyer can explain to you, gangrene generally indicates blood loss in a particular part of the body. This blood loss can lead to the tissue in the surrounding area decaying.
Gangrene can start off looking like an ordinary bruise. However, a gangrenous wound may be accompanied by a foul-smelling liquid discharging from it. Signs of gangrene can include:
- Infection and fever
- Slow-healing wounds
- Unusual discharges from the wound
- Pains in the body that are hard to explain
You should discuss possible signs of gangrene with your doctor and a St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyer.
Gangrene and Negligence
Your St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyer may be able to prove that the nursing home was negligent and therefore contributed to the cause of the gangrene. If so, the nursing home may be responsible for the injuries.
To prove negligence, a St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyer generally needs to show that the nursing home owed a duty to protect the resident and failed to reasonably meet this duty. Proving negligence can be complex and very fact-specific. A St. Petersburg nursing home abuse attorney will review your case and explain to you the exact elements you need to prove.
Contact a St. Petersburg Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
You should contact an experienced St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyer if you suspect that a nursing home caused gangrene in someone you know. Gangrene can be easily treated if caught early. However, nursing homes may be negligent in their duties. If you have any questions regarding gangrene-related injuries, call St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyer Peter Giroux at (727) 895-5399.