REHABILITATION CENTERS AND GROSS NEGLIGENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Rehabilitation centers provide important medical care and assistance for patients recovering from serious injuries and illnesses. However, some facilities in the District of Columbia fail to meet basic standards of care, potentially putting patients at risk. This type of extreme carelessness may constitute gross negligence, allowing patients to pursue legal action for damages.
Gross negligence involves a level of carelessness substantially beyond what a reasonably prudent person would exhibit in similar circumstances. At rehabilitation centers, gross negligence could involve:
- Failure to properly monitor high-risk patients. Some patients, especially in the first days after a stroke or surgery, require close observation to watch for complications. If staff do not check on patients frequently enough, their conditions could deteriorate without notice.
- Inadequate staffing levels. Understaffed facilities cannot properly care for all patients, leading to delays in assistance with basic needs like using the restroom, taking medication on time, or changing dressings on wounds.
- Lack of proper infection control. Not following sanitary protocols or sterilizing equipment properly can spread illnesses among patients and staff. Outbreaks of infections like MRSA and C.difficile have been linked to negligence in rehabilitation centers.
If you believe a rehabilitation center’s gross negligence seriously worsened your condition or prolonged your recovery, contact the attorneys at the Law Offices of Kim Parker, P.A. for a free consultation. Our team can investigate your case and advise you on your legal options, including seeking compensation to cover your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Submit your inquiry at https://www.kpcounsel.com/contact/ for more information.