Choking in The Bronx Nursing Homes

Choking while under the care of nursing home staff is an all-too-common occurrence. If your loved one died or became seriously injured because of a choking incident, you or your loved one may be able to hold the nursing home liable for damages.

Choking in The Bronx nursing homes should not have to be an overlooked wrong. Contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney to take legal action.

How Choking Could Happen in a Nursing Home

Choking can happen to anyone. However, residents of nursing homes in The Bronx are especially vulnerable due to factors such as, reduced ability to chew or swallow food, medical conditions that impair swallowing, and cognitive impairments that prevent them from understanding their dietary limitations. Because of these risks, nursing home staff must exercise extreme caution regarding what residents eat. If staff feed the resident restricted foods, or allow access to food the resident should avoid, the individual could choke. A lawyer can evaluate whether the nursing home may be held liable in such cases.

Examples of Nursing Home Negligence in Choking Incidents

Here are some examples of nursing home negligence that can lead to choking:

• The nursing home knew a resident was at risk of choking but failed to implement preventative measures
• Staff ignored a resident's documented dietary restrictions and served restricted food
• Staff failed to monitor residents during meals, leaving them vulnerable to choking
• Improper management of feeding tubes, resulting in choking
• Inadequate staff training to recognize choking symptoms, prevent incidents, or perform the Heimlich maneuver
• Failure to respond promptly to a choking emergency or to seek immediate medical attention

Residents may also develop new medical conditions that increase their risk of choking. If the nursing home fails to assess or reassess a resident's ability to chew and swallow, they may unintentionally serve food that poses a serious choking hazard.

What a Lawyer Can Do About Choking in Nursing Homes

A lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation into the choking incident, which may involve interviewing nursing home staff, reviewing medical records, and consulting with medical experts. If the investigation reveals that the nursing home breached its duty of care, and that this breach directly caused injury or death, the lawyer can file a claim on behalf of the injured resident or their family.

Compensation may cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and funeral and burial costs.

Filing a nursing home negligence lawsuit should not be attempted without the guidance of an attorney experienced in handling choking cases in Bronx nursing homes.

Contact a Lawyer in The Bronx About Choking in Nursing Homes

If negligence led to a choking incident in a Bronx nursing home, contact a lawyer who can help hold the facility accountable. The legal team at Duffy & Duffy takes nursing home neglect seriously. Call us today to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation and get the information you need to protect your loved one’s rights.