Homicide by decubitus ulcers.
Traditionally, the only penalties for poor treatment of nursing home patients have been civil lawsuits against nursing homes and their employees by families, or fines and license suspension by government organizations. Recently, government agencies have become much more aggressive in citing institutions for the development of decubitus ulcers (pressure sores) in their patients. A few government institutions have concluded that in some cases, the development of ulcers with resultant death is so grievous that there should be criminal prosecution of the individuals and/or institutions providing care. A leader in this concept has been the State of Hawaii. In November 2000, the State of Hawaii convicted an individual of manslaughter in the death of a patient at an adult residential care home (a form of nursing home) for permitting the progression of decubitus ulcers without seeking medical help, and for not bringing the patient back to a physician for treatment of the ulcers.
Di Maio
Vincent J M
VJ
Medical Examiner's Office of Bexar County, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. dimaio@co.bexar.tx.us
Di Maio
Theresa G
TG
D000368:Aged; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D009732:Nursing Care; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000628:therapy