At Ashby Thelen Lowry, our Atlanta personal injury attorneys know that individuals and families often prefer home healthcare for their loved ones because it offers a more personalized, comfortable, and familiar environment for care compared to institutional settings.
Home healthcare allows patients to receive professional medical attention, therapy, and support while remaining in their homes and encourages families to stay closely involved in the care process. This involvement provides peace of mind that their loved ones receive individualized attention tailored to their needs. Unfortunately, the convenience and personalized care provided by home healthcare companies and their employees aren’t always up to medical standards.
Substandard care occurs when the level of care provided falls below the accepted medical or professional standards, potentially leading to harm or inadequate treatment for the patient. Issues such as improper medication management, inadequate monitoring of the patient’s condition, failure to follow care plans, insufficient training of healthcare staff, or neglect of the patient’s basic needs can be involved.
It is essential to understand that a Georgia home healthcare company can be held liable for mistreatment, neglect, or abuse claims under specific circumstances. Here, we discuss what Georgia families need to know about their legal rights and options.
When are Home Healthcare Companies Liable for Patient Harm in Georgia?
Holding a negligent home healthcare company liable for substandard care or abuse is crucial because it ensures accountability and helps prevent further harm to vulnerable patients.
Common circumstances when the company may be liable include, but are not limited to:
- Negligent Hiring: If the company hires employees without conducting thorough background checks, including criminal history and past employment verification, and these employees abuse or neglect a patient, the company can be held liable.
- Inadequate Training: The company must properly train its caregivers on handling patients safely and ethically. If an employee commits abuse due to a lack of training, the company can be liable for failing to equip its staff with the necessary skills and knowledge.
- Supervision Failures: Regular supervision and monitoring of caregivers are essential. If the company fails to supervise its employees and abuse adequately occurs, it can be held responsible.
- Policy and Procedure Lapses: Companies must have clear policies and procedures to prevent abuse and respond promptly if it occurs. Failure to implement or enforce these measures can result in liability if abuse happens.
- Ignoring Complaints: If the company receives complaints or reports of abuse and does not take immediate and appropriate action to investigate and address the issue, it can be liable for any resulting harm.
- Understaffing: Chronic understaffing can lead to neglect and substandard care, contributing to abuse. If the company fails to maintain adequate staffing levels, it can be held liable for the consequences.
When these companies are held responsible, it serves as a deterrent, encouraging them and others in the industry to adhere to high standards of care and ethical practices. Legal accountability also provides justice and compensation for the victims and their families, addressing the physical, emotional, and financial impacts of the neglect or abuse. We can help.
Contact our skilled Atlanta personal injury lawyers and support team at Ashby Thelen Lowry at (404) 777-7771 to schedule a free consultation. This initial step will ensure your rights are protected and enable you to make informed decisions about the direction of your claim.