A recent, disturbing story out of Arizona is the latest example of the danger that nursing home residents may face when facility owners don’t take the appropriate steps to protect them.
A 29-year-old woman who has been comatose for a decade recently gave birth to a child, after authorities say the woman was raped. The news has sparked sex abuse allegations and created a whirlwind of concerns about nursing home patients’ safety.
One Florida man has been trying to get the state legislature to enhance protections for nursing home residents since well before the Arizona news grabbed public attention. Edward Bowman wants to ban sex offenders from nursing homes and other medical facilities.
Crafting “Clara’s Law”
Bowman calls the proposal “Clara’s Law.” It’s named for his wife, who he says was sexually assaulted by a male nurse while she was a patient at a hospital in Orlando more than a decade ago. Bowman says the nurse was fired, but later moved to another facility and assaulted other patients there.
The law would require facility owners to document sex assaults and other related incidents. Bowman also wants them not to hire people who have been convicted of a sex offense.
Bowman is currently walking from Mount Dora to Tallahassee to bring attention to the proposal.
Legal Protections for Nursing Home Residents
Unfortunately, neglect and abuse are common in some nursing homes. That includes the kind of sexual assault and rape documented by Bowman and in the Arizona case as well as simple negligence that allows a resident to be injured by falling from a bed
Florida law gives injured people the right to seek compensation from those responsible. In nursing home neglect and abuse cases, that may include not just the person who caused the harm, but also his or her employer and the nursing home owner. Nursing home facilities owe certain basic legal duties to their residents and are responsible for any injuries caused when they don’t live up to those responsibilities.
Talk With a Villages Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of nursing home neglect or abuse, you have the right to seek compensation from those responsible. It’s important that you seek the advice and counsel of an experienced personal injury attorney, who can help you weigh your options and build the strongest possible case.
Villages personal injury accident attorney Tim Babiarz has been representing people involved in collisions for more than two decades. Our office is conveniently located in The Villages. Our firm is proud to fight for clients in Ocala, Leesburg, Lady Lake, Wildwood, Summerfield and beyond. Call (352) 205-7599 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
