Controversial COVID-19 Drug Administered at Pennsylvania Nursing Home
A Pennsylvania nursing home recently came under fire after it was discovered that the facility had administered hydroxychloroquine to residents battling COVID-19, without first obtaining approval to conduct an experimental treatment. Although touted by some as being a legitimate treatment for COVID-19, the FDA recently warned against the use of hydroxychloroquine in non-hospital settings like nursing homes. Unfortunately, despite these warnings, at least one Pennsylvania nursing home chose to administer the drug to residents, putting already vulnerable patients at risk of suffering from potentially serious side effects.
Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that fail to adhere to federal and state guidelines when treating residents can be held liable if their actions result in injury or death. Filing this type of claim does, however, tend to be difficult, especially in the current climate when many nursing homes are failing to provide truthful information to residents and their families regarding the virus’ spread. To learn more about your loved one’s legal rights and a nursing home’s potential liability for negligent care, contact a Wilkes Barre nursing home wrongful death lawyer (COVID-19) as soon as possible.
Allegations of the Use of Experimental Drugs in Treating COVID-19
After the release of reports from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, officials found that a nursing home in the state had treated 205 residents with hydroxychloroquine despite federal warnings regarding the treatment. Although the facility did obtain consent from the residents prior to treatment, investigators found that it did not first obtain approval from the Department of Health to engage in experimental treatments as required by state law. Furthermore, the investigator’s report found that the nursing home did not report any medication errors or adverse events that residents may have experienced after the drug’s administration. While the facility in question has ceased administering the treatment, some officials continue to express concern that similar practices may be going on elsewhere, but due to restricted visitation, have gone largely unnoticed.
This is not the first time that Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center has come under scrutiny for its COVID-19-related practices, as it has already reported one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the state, with 332 resident cases, 113 reported staff cases, and 73 resident deaths. The facility is also the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the loved ones of a housekeeping employee who allegedly contracted the virus while working at the nursing home.
Call Today for Help with Your Case
The loss of a loved one is one of the most devastating experiences that a person can go through, but these ordeals can be even more trying when the death was preventable. Unfortunately, this has proven to be the case for many nursing home residents who were negligently exposed to COVID-19. For help determining whether you have a valid wrongful death claim and can seek compensation from a negligent nursing home, please call dedicated Pennsylvania nursing home wrongful death lawyer (COVID-19) Keith Figured at the Figured Law Firm today. You can reach a member of our legal team by calling 570-954-9299 or by sending us an online message.
Resource:
cnn.com/2020/07/29/us/pennsylvania-hydroxychloroquine-rehabilitation-center/index.html
https://www.figuredlaw.com/were-coronavirus-nursing-home-deaths-preventable/
