May 10, 2013 by Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

News of Insurance Fraud and Medical Malpractice Close to Milwaukee

Hospital under fire for finical gain from unnecessary procedures

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Friday, May 10, 2013.

Not that far from Milwaukee, several top hospital administrators, the hospital owner and multiple physicians at Sacred Heart Hospital in Chicago are scrambling to defend themselves following arrest in an extremely disturbing and elaborate scheme aimed at collecting reimbursements from Medicare. The establishment that was supposed to be helping people is now facing charges for performing risky, needless surgeries and other procedures on poor and elderly patients in order to reap the financial kickbacks.

A complaint states that at least $2 million was collected by the hospital in health care program reimbursements for procedures that did not need to happen and put the health of victims at risk. Presently, it is estimate that $225,000 of that figure was fraudulently passed to doctors, disguised as compensation for teaching a course to medical students that do not exist, among many other unethical explanations.

Residents of nursing homes that did not need any medical attention were a favorite to prey on for these corrupt administrators and doctors. Tragically, nursing home residents in Wisconsin and elsewhere across the nation can be vulnerable to this kind of abuse because they are frail and often unable to protest.

The hospital accomplished this with the assistance of an ambulance company in on the scheme. The ambulance would bring the nursing home resident directly to the Emergency Room so that the hospital could bill Medicare. Doctors are charged, among other offenses, with heavily sedating patients so that it would be harder to take the patient off of a ventilator. Then the doctor would declare that a tracheotomy needed to be performed.

Since 2008, it is alleged that the hospital did this to 28 victims. Suspicion began to arise around the hospital when five victims died in just a two week span because doctors were unnecessarily cutting holes in the throats of patients. It is absolutely appalling that these elderly, vulnerable individuals had their health compromised intentionally so that some greedy doctors could take home a few extra dollars.

As this investigation unravels, it is expected that more parties will be arrested and charged in this scheme of greed and disregard for human life. It is likely that families of victims could also file claims of nursing home abuse or medical malpractice in these happenings. Once this case is blown wide open, there will certainly be a lot of explaining to do.

Source: Chicago Tribune, “6 arrested in alleged kickback scheme at Sacred Heart Hospital,” Jason Meisner, April 16, 2013

If you were injured due to medical malpractice close to Milwaukee, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

April 12, 2013 by Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

Elder Abuse Story Shocks Milwaukee

Nursing home owner fined $350,000 for horrible abuse of residents

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Friday, April 12, 2013.

The consequences of an elderly loved one in Wisconsin suffering in a nursing home due to neglect can be deadly. Understaffing can mean that residents fall, suffer dehydration, miss their medications and are left with agonizing bed sores. Nursing homes will often offer excuses about underfunding for the understaffing and consequent neglect, but the bottom line is this behavior is intolerable and can be met with consequences.

While both nursing home neglect and nursing home abuse are egregious acts to commit, there is far less by way of excuses when it comes to the abuse of an elderly individual in a nursing home. It makes most people sick to think about an elderly and vulnerable individual being physically or sexually abused. However, these are issues that need to be talked about in order to prevent any more elderly loved ones from falling victim to such violation.

At an out-of-state nursing home, a horrible nursing home owner has been charged with injury to an elderly person, ordered to pay fines totaling $350,000 and ordered to never open another nursing home again concluding the investigation into the claims of nursing home abused leveled against this woman.

This Elder Abuse Story Shocks Milwaukee for Good Reason

Prosecutors report that the woman made two elderly residents wear around their necks bags filled with human waste. This is a kind of torture so unimaginable; she was treating the victims like they trash rather than people. There was no dignity or care in her treatment. Investigators shut down the nursing home two years ago.

If a family in Wisconsin has the horrible suspicion that their loved one is not being properly taken care of, action is imperative. An experienced legal attorney can help a family make sure that their loved one is tended to in a caring manner, and additionally seek recourse if a loved one faced a serious lapse in care.

Source: KRISTV.com, “Former Nursing Home Owner Facing Abuse Charges Today,” Janine Reyes, April 11, 2013

Our firm has experience handling similarly upsetting cases in Wisconsin. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

March 26, 2013 by Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

Nursing Home Negligence Information for Milwaukee Families

Discerning sufferings from age and sufferings from abuse in nursing homes

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Tuesday, March 26, 2013.

Understanding when an elderly loved one is simply exhibiting signs of an aging mind and body, and when they are exhibiting signs of abuse in a nursing home can be difficult. However, there are some warning signs to remain on high alert for that could indicate a loved one is being abused rather than simply reflecting their age.

Of course, physical markings, bruises and cuts should raise alarm. Bruising and small cuts are not unusual on elderly individuals, but an individual should be particularly concerned if their loved one has these signs on areas that are not highly visible like the upper back or thighs. Another serious problem in nursing homes is dehydration or malnutrition. If the resident is losing weight or experiences a significant loss of muscle strength, this could be a sign of staff failing to get the residents enough to eat and drink.

Ultimately, in such scenarios a loved one will really have to rely on their intuition, and assessment of the situation and their elderly loved one. If a family member senses that something is off, ask questions of the staff.

An associate dean of research that studies long-term care at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Nursing says, “I have never seen a place with strong, involved leadership that had bad care.” This means that the staff should be familiar with policies and improvements. Accordingly, nursing home staff should be present and available, press them for answers in instances of concern. If the staff doesn’t know and doesn’t want to help, this could be an indication of a serious problem.

If an individual ever has suspicions that their loved one is being neglected or abused at a nursing home in Wisconsin and asking questions does not yield answers, more may need to be done. When answers are not forth coming, it could be critical to speak with an experiencedMilwaukee personal injury attorney to protect an individual’s elderly loved one.

Source: U.S. News and World Report, “9 Warning Signs of Bad Care,” Kurtis Hiatt, Feb. 26, 2013

March 5, 2013 by Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

Shocking Elder Abuse Case Near Milwaukee

Elderly patient left to die in pain due to medication error

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Tuesday, March 5, 2013.

It is always difficult to place a loved one in the care of a nursing home in Wisconsin or anywhere else. At times when an individual becomes too infirm to care for themselves, families trust that a nursing home will tend to their loved one, keeping them well and safe from harm. Unfortunately, elderly individuals are often subjected to substandard care, neglect and even abuse due to budget cuts, understaffing and the hiring of individuals that are ill equipped for the position.

A nursing home operating out of state is currently undergoing the process of decertification following the uncovering of what would be considered nightmarish conditions for any individual in a nursing home. The nursing home is being shut down after an egregious lapse in care that led to scores of problems, including residents being left in their own waste for hours, dozens of falls, neglect and multiple medication errors that led to deaths.

One staff member reports that he failed to feed a resident because he ran out of time before the end of his shift. An investigation uncovered numerous instances of improper transcriptions and medication errors. One resident that was in an immense amount of pain was not administered the proper pain medication even when family was pleading with staff.

That resident died in an extreme and unnecessary amount of agony. It is heart breaking to hear of cases like this. When a defenseless and elderly loved one is similarly made to suffer like this in Wisconsin, a devastated family often feels angry and seeks answers. In such instances, there can be legal recourse because every patient deserves the highest standard of care.

A grieving family can file a claim of nursing home abuse or neglect in Wisconsin. The process for financially recovering follow a lapse in care from a nursing home is governed by varying laws, which can be confusing. Accordingly, it is best to speak with an experienced Milwaukee personal injury attorney.

Source: The Tennessean, “Madison nursing home gave patient wrong doses time and again,” Walter F. Roche Jr., Feb. 26, 2013

February 20, 2013 by Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

Shocking Case of Elder Abuse in Milwaukee

Woman neglected in nursing home dies, family settles out of court

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Wednesday, February 20, 2013.

Nursing homes that receive Medicare and Medicaid in Wisconsin are legally required to report all instances in which a resident is mistreated, abused, neglected or injured in an unknown manner within 24 hours of the happening. However, this federal law is not always adhered in Wisconsin, which is particularly troubling because it directly impacts some of the most vulnerable members of our state.

It is reasonable for Wisconsin families to expect that when they put their elderly loved ones into some sort of care facility, their health is being looked after by the medical professionals and staff that the family has trusted. Further, if there is a breakdown in this and neglect or abuse occurs, it would be reasonable to think that the state will take action to rectify this.

However, many of these instances of neglect or abuse go unreported, so it is often the responsibility of the family to report such complaints in order to see an investigation. According to one advocate for the elderly and their families, “The insidious thing about facilities not reporting incidents is that there’s no way to know what’s not getting reported.”

In instances in which a care provider fails to adhere to these laws, a family can file a civil suit on the grounds of negligence, wrongful death or medical malpractice. One man filed a lawsuit after his wife fell and then died when she was in the care of a facility about an hour from Milwaukee.

Reportedly, the wife pushed the call light, but no one came for quite some time. So she attempted to get out of bed on her own, fell and hit her head, causing serious bleeding in her brain. She died the next day and the fall was never reported.

The husband filed a wrongful death claim against the company that owned the nursing home, and settled out of court. Unfortunately, as this case demonstrates, surveyors and federal regulators cannot catch everything. Accordingly, it is often up to family to remain alert for instances of abuse and neglect of elderly loved ones in a nursing home. If a family has suspicions of mistreatment, an experienced nursing home neglect lawyer could be invaluable in seeking justice on behalf of an elderly loved one.

Source: WisconsinWatch.org, “Wisconsin nursing homes fail to report deaths, injuries,” Feb. 18, 2013

Our firm has experience handling similar cases. If you have a loved one who has suffered elder abuse in Milwaukee or anywhere in Wisconsin, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. to discuss your options.

January 31, 2013 by Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

Another Case of Elder Abuse in Wisconsin

Wisconsin woman charged with abusing elderly patient

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Thursday, January 31, 2013.

The thought of someone abusing an elderly individual is so unsettling that many of us cannot stand the thought of such a situation. Unfortunately, there are people that victimize vulnerable individuals put in their care. Accordingly, a 50-year-old Wisconsin employee of a nursing home in New Lisbon has been charged with abusing a patient under her care.

Reportedly, the 50-year-old nursing home employee was seen by multiple certified nursing assistants to be physically and verbally abusing an 86-year-old patient. One employee reports hearing the woman threatening to break the victim’s fingers.

Accordingly, this awful woman has been criminally charged with felony counts of abuse of a patient and aggravated battery. In similar situations where an elderly individual has been victimized through abuse or neglect in a Wisconsin nursing home, the family can also pursue further justice through a nursing home abuse and neglect claim.

When a vulnerable, elderly individual is abused, this can cause serious consequences that extend beyond the cuts and bruises an abuser might inflict. Such abuse can severely impact an individual’s will to live, often causing the victim to struggle in the midst of a defeated mental state. In some instances this can mean that a victim will stop eating and become malnourished.

In order to protect an elderly individual from an abuser and the secondary consequences of such abuse, it is important for families that have suspicions that their loved one is being abused to address this issue as quickly as possible. If it is found that an elderly loved one is being abused in a nursing home, a family should first make sure the victim is safe and then consider seeking the advice of an experienced attorney in order to pursue some form of justice on behalf of a loved one.

Source: Juneau County Star-Times, “Suspect in nursing home abuse case waives hearing,” Peter Rebhahn, Jan. 22, 2013

Our firm has experience assisting families that have been similarly impacted when their loved one has become a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect in the Milwaukee area. For a free consultation regarding a case of elder abuse in Wisconsin, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

July 31, 2012 by Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

Protecting Milwaukee Nursing Home Patients Requires Proper Staffing

Inadequate staffing may lead to nurse burnout, medical mistakes

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Tuesday, July 31, 2012.

A recent study of nurses in hospitals shows that inadequate staffing can cause them to burn out, leading to medical mistakes. The same could easily be said for understaffed nursing homes.

Data from the study, which appears in the American Journal of Infection Control, indicates that cutting an institution’s medical staff can ultimately lead to more errors and patient deaths.

As hospitals have nursing staffs, at least one state has responded to such budget issues by mandating a minimum nurse-to-patient ratio. This may be beneficial not only because patients get more attention, but because the working environment is different.

The lead author of the study says that staffing plays a huge part in that. If an employee feels there is a lack of support and teamwork, stress can build to the point that the staff member feels detached. In an office environment, that might result in mere indifference. In the medical industry, that can have extremely serious consequences.

In typical medical facilities in one state, the proportion of burned out nurses is about 30 percent. If that could be reduced to 10 percent, it could prevent over 4,000 cases of the most common infections, and also save the state about $41 million.

When family members bring someone to a hospital or nursing home, they have the right to hope and expect that the medical staff that greets them is friendly, competent and sharp. Clearly, cutting a budget has more consequences than meets the eye.

Source: Philly.com, “Penn study examines link between nurse burnout, care,” Don Sapatkin, July 30, 2012

If you need legal representation, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. for a free consultation.

June 21, 2012 by Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

Patients Should Beware Milwaukee Nursing Home Errors

Filing error results in group home resident’s death in Brooklyn Park

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Thursday, June 21, 2012.

Keeping patients’ medical records properly organized in nursing homes is a simple task, but an important one. If files get mixed up, mistakes can prove fatal.

In one recent incident, a resident of a group home was not resuscitated after he started to choke, resulting in his untimely death last March. A subsequent investigation of the tragedy revealed that staff members did not try to attempt to perform CPR on him because they were under the impression that there was a do-not-resuscitate order applicable to him.

While an ambulance was summoned to assist him, he was not placed in it. Staff reportedly told emergency personnel not to do CPR on him because of the DNR order. The management of the facility is being faulted by investigators, since the procedure for filing documents was apparently the reason for the confusion. Employees were looking at the DNR order for another patient.

All DNR orders for all patients were apparently placed in the same file at the home. Since the incident, the home has altered its procedures to establish separate files for each patient, with their DNR orders and other information concerning them to be consulted in an emergency.

The patient had been a resident of the nursing home for approximately two years. He suffered from advanced kidney failure as well as hypertension, requiring skilled care, according to reports.

Elderly and disabled residents of nursing homes are dependent on the quality of care they receive to maintain their health. It’s vitally important to avoid mistakes that could risk the lives of patients. If you need legal representation for a nursing home mistake, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. for a free consultation.

Source: Star Tribune, “Brooklyn Park group home is faulted in choking death,” Paul Walsh, June 13, 2012

April 18, 2012 by Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

Milwaukee Nursing Home Wrongful Death Attorneys Share Disturbing Story

Nurses accused of elder abuse in nursing home death

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Wednesday, April 18, 2012.

When a family decides that it’s best for someone to live in a nursing home, they have every right to expect top-notch care. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out that way.

Recently, charges of nursing home abuse were lodged against two nurses. Prosecutors claimed that the nurses were negligent in caring for a 77-year-old woman, who died at the home following a brief stay in March 2008. The two nurses pleaded not guilty to the felony charges in court on April 10.

The nurses, 58 and 38 years old, respectively, both worked at the home at the time of the woman’s death. The older woman, a registered nurse, served as the home’s director of nursing. The younger nurse, a licensed vocational nurse, served as the floor nurse where the patient was staying. She has agreed to refrain from working as a nurse until the prosecution is resolved, as well as pending problems concerning her license.

The younger nurse had moved to another state following the incident, but recently returned and surrendered to authorities to face trial. She is the mother of five children, and the judge agreed to release her without bail, trusting that she will be attending trial proceedings.

The prosecutor also requested that the judge revoke the other woman’s license, but he declined to do so. In addition to the nurses allegedly providing the patient with inadequate care during her 13-day stay, prosecutors asserted that the skilled nursing home neglected to properly supervise its employees.

Source: Sacramento Bee, “Nurses plead not guilty to elder abuse charges in Placerville,” Marjie Lundstrom, April 10, 2012

Do you need legal help from a Milwaukee personal injury attorney for a case of nursing home abuse? Contact Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. today for a free initial consultation.

March 27, 2012 by Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

Milwaukee Elderly Sexual Abuse Attorney Shares Shocking Story

Woman sexually abused at nursing home for months

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

Unfortunately, abuse at nursing homes can happen just about anywhere, the Milwaukee area included. Over in a neighboring state, a shocking cause of sexual abuse at a nursing home is making headlines.

A woman at the facility, whose age was not reported, was apparently sexually abused at the nursing home over a period of months. The woman apparently was not able to tend to her own bathroom needs, dress or bathe by herself.

The worker’s abuse apparently included fondling her breasts and forcing her to perform oral sex on him. The abuse went on for months, according to a Health Department report. The employee had also apparently been accused of “sexually inappropriate” behavior at other facilities previously.

For the latest abuse, the man was fired. Police apparently attempted to contact him, but the phone numbers he provided did not work.

When he had been confronted by staff members about the abuse, he claimed that the woman didn’t make sense and was under the impression that he would marry her. But other staff members claim the woman was “alert and oriented,” according to the Star Tribune.

In the earlier allegations of misconduct, the Health Department did not initiate further investigations and the nursing home was not held responsible for the alleged abuse.

As for the more recent case, prosecutors haven’t made a decision whether charges will be filed against the man. Officials with the local police department were checking to see where the investigation stood.

Source: Star Tribune, “Woman in St. Paul nursing home sexually abused over months, report says,” Paul Walsh, March 20, 2012

Do you need legal assistance from a Milwaukee personal injury attorney for a case of nursing home abuse? Contact Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. today for a free initial consultation.

« Previous Page