Bedsores, also called pressure ulcers or pressure injuries, can develop when a patient remains in one position too long without proper turning, repositioning, skin checks, nutrition, hydration, and wound care. These injuries are often preventable with appropriate nursing and medical attention.
Pressure injuries can occur in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, VA hospitals, military medical facilities, and other healthcare settings. Serious bedsores can lead to infection, sepsis, surgery, prolonged hospitalization, permanent injury, or death.
Rawls Law Group represents patients and families in pressure injury cases involving Virginia healthcare providers and federal healthcare facilities. In cases involving VA, military, IHS, or other federal providers, the claim may be governed by the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Common Pressure Injury Issues
Pressure injury cases may involve:
- Failure to turn or reposition a patient
- Failure to assess skin condition
- Failure to identify pressure injury risk
- Failure to provide appropriate wound care
- Failure to provide proper nutrition or hydration
- Failure to use pressure-relieving devices
- Failure to monitor worsening wounds
- Failure to treat infection
- Failure to communicate changes in condition
Preventable Harm
Some patients are at higher risk for pressure injuries because of illness, immobility, surgery, weakness, age, poor nutrition, or other medical conditions. But when healthcare providers know a patient is at risk, they must take appropriate steps to prevent avoidable harm.
Rawls Law Group handles serious pressure injury cases involving hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, VA facilities, military facilities, and other healthcare settings.
Virginia and Federal Pressure Injury Claims
Pressure injuries can occur in private Virginia hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, VA hospitals, military medical facilities, Indian Health Service facilities, and other healthcare settings. These cases may be governed by Virginia medical malpractice law or, when federal healthcare providers are involved, by the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Rawls Law Group handles serious pressure injury cases involving both private and federal healthcare providers. We review the patient’s risk factors, skin assessments, turning and repositioning records, wound care, nutrition, hydration, nursing documentation, and whether the facility took appropriate steps to prevent avoidable harm.
FAQs
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Does Rawls Law Group handle FTCA medical malpractice claims nationwide?
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Yes. Rawls Law Group represents clients nationwide in FTCA medical malpractice claims involving VA facilities, military medical facilities, Indian Health Service facilities, and other federally supported healthcare providers.
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What does it cost to hire Rawls Law Group for an FTCA case?
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Rawls Law Group handles medical malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis. In FTCA cases, attorney fees are limited by federal law and depend on whether the case resolves administratively or after suit is filed. We explain fees and case costs before representation begins.
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Do I need a lawyer in the state where the malpractice happened?
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Not necessarily. FTCA cases are federal claims, but they often depend on the medical malpractice law of the state where the negligent care occurred. Rawls Law Group handles FTCA medical malpractice claims nationwide and regularly works with the legal and medical issues that arise in cases across the country.
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What if the negligent provider was a contractor rather than a federal employee?
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This is an important issue. The FTCA generally applies to negligence by federal employees acting within the scope of employment. If the provider was an independent contractor, different rules may apply. Determining the provider’s status is often a critical part of evaluating an FTCA medical malpractice case.
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How does Rawls Law Group decide whether to take an FTCA medical malpractice case?
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We begin by learning what happened, identifying the facility and providers involved, and reviewing the available medical records. Some cases require review by medical experts before we can determine whether the standard of care was violated and whether that violation caused serious harm.
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Will filing a claim affect my VA benefits or medical care?
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Filing a claim should not be used as a basis to retaliate against a veteran or family member or interfere with medical care or benefits. Many veterans worry about this issue, and it is important to address it clearly.