Pressure Sores and Medical Malpractice
According to pressure sore statistics from the US Department of Health and Human Services, 2.5 million patients are affected by bed sores each year in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 2004, 159,000 residents of nursing homes had pressure sores. Pressure sores cost $9.1 to $11.6 billion each year in the country.
Can Hospitals or Nursing Homes be Sued for Bed Sores?
According to data from the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey, about 159,000 (11%) nursing home residents in the United States had pressure ulcers. The most common were stage 2 pressure ulcers. Residents aged 64 and under were more likely to have pressure compared to older residents. Those staying in nursing homes for 1 year or less were more likely to have bed sores than those who stayed longer.
