Santa Ana Hospice Care Abuse Lawyer

Santa Ana Hospice Care Abuse Attorney

The act of putting a loved one into hospice care is one of the most difficult decisions you will ever have to make. Hospice care is quite different from nursing home care. When you put someone into hospice care, you are essentially giving them a place to die with dignity and take some comfort in their final days. When hospice patients are abused, it’s important to hold abusers accountable. A Santa Ana hospice care abuse lawyer can help you build a strong case.

The legal team at Hunter Law understands the legal and emotional difficulties ahead of you. You may want to go to the hospice facility and demand justice, but it’s important that you keep your emotions in check and do things the smart way.

You will want a Santa Ana hospice care attorney by your side to help you build a good case. You’ll want a lawyer with experience handling hospice care abuse cases like yours, as well as someone who understands hospice care abuse laws.

Hire a Hospice Care Abuse Lawyer

As you struggle to endure the fact that a loved one is being abused in hospice, it’s vital that you take the steps to hire a hospice care abuse lawyer. Having the right lawyer by your side through this terrifying and painful ordeal can make all the difference. Stephen R. Hunter has over 16 years of experience helping elderly clients and their families get justice in the face of elder abuse and neglect. He has gained a reputation as a strong and devoted litigator. He can help your case.

According to recent statistical information from the California Department of Aging, there are unfortunately more than 200,000 instances of elder abuse reported throughout California. Many of these cases take place in care facilities like hospices and nursing homes. Many of them are never reported out of fear or confusion. Your situation is not unique. Many others may have endured similar abuses. An experienced lawyer can help you develop a case and see it through.

Enduring abuse in a hospice care center can be one of the most painful and confusing times of your life, even if you are acting on behalf of the abused. This may seriously be affecting your mental health, and you can’t take care of others without first taking care of yourself. You should reach out to a local support group like NAMI Orange County or the Brainspotting Group. Sometimes, having someone to talk to who truly understands your situation can be helpful.

Examples of Hospice Care Abuse

While certain forms of abuse are certainly easy to identify, others may not be. Depending on the victim’s mental and physical health, it may be hard to immediately notice that they are being abused. It’s important to know what hospice care abuse looks like. Remember that the statute of limitations on personal injury cases in California is only two years. That’s not as much time as it may seem. Here are some examples of what hospice care abuse might look like:

• Physical abuse: The most obvious form of abuse is physical abuse, which involves inflicting injuries, causing bodily harm, and using an inappropriate amount of physical force. Not only does physical abuse include kicking, punching, or slapping the victim, but it can also include improperly restraining the victim or sedating them excessively and without their consent.
• Psychological abuse: This form of abuse can be harder to prove without video or audio evidence. It includes using verbal threats or harassment, intimidation, mocking a patient’s disability, ignoring the patient, or even preventing the patient from seeing their families. Sometimes, psychological abuse can be far more damaging than physical abuse.
• Neglect: Neglect is one of the most common forms of hospice care abuse. It occurs when a patient’s caregiver fails to meet the patient’s basic survival needs. Neglect can involve withholding pain medication, failing to treat bedsores, forgetting to clean the patient, or failing to change the sheets, or just abandoning the patient to their own devices.

FAQs About Santa Ana, CA Hospice Care Abuse Law

How Do I Take Legal Action Against a Hospice Company?

If you want to take legal action against a hospice company, your first step is contacting an experienced lawyer who can help you build your case. You may not know where to start, and you don’t want to make any crucial mistakes that could cost you dearly. Your lawyer can help you gather evidence, investigate the claim, and file a complaint with the right people.

What’s the Difference Between Abuse and Neglect?

The main difference between abuse and neglect is the abuser’s intent. Abuse is inflicted with the intent of hurting someone through physical or psychological violence. Neglect is often passive and may be inflicted unknowingly. That doesn’t make it any less painful or immoral, and neglect can often be even worse than abuse. To neglect someone, you just have to ignore or forget about your responsibilities towards them.

Does a Hospice Patient Have Rights?

Yes, a hospice patient absolutely has rights. Just because they are in hospice care doesn’t make them any less human than anyone else. They are still protected by the law and are owed basic respect, decency, and care. They have the right to refuse care at any time, as well as the right to make their own decisions about their general care. If they are abused or neglected, they have the right to take legal action and hold their abuser accountable.

Can You Fire Your Hospice Company?

Yes, you can fire your hospice company. You reserve the right to change healthcare providers at any time, even if you are living in hospice care. To leave hospice care or switch to a new provider, you will need to sign a written statement and give it to your current hospice company. Your hospice company cannot reasonably deny your desire to change providers, and if they try to stop you, you should contact a lawyer.

Reach Out to a Lawyer Today

At Hunter Law, we can help you maintain your dignity and seek accountability for the abuse that’s been done to you or your loved one. Contact us to speak to someone on our team about your situation.

Costa Mesa Hospital Abuse and Neglect Law Resources:

• Elder Abuse in America
• Reporting Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
• Pressure Ulcer AKA Bedsore: A Common Injury in Elder Abuse Cases
• When To Consult An Attorney: Elder Abuse and Neglect
• California Nursing Home Abuse Laws – All You Need To Know
• Legal Protection Against Elder Financial Abuse in California: What You Need to Know
• How to File an Elder Abuse Lawsuit in California
• Warning Signs of Elderly Sexual Abuse in California Nursing Homes
• Why Experience Matters in Fighting Elder Abuse Lawsuits