Raleigh Elder Abuse Lawyers
North Carolina Nursing Home Abuse Law
The North Carolina State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators is “responsible for developing, imposing and enforcing standards that must be met by individuals in order to be licensed as nursing home administrators.” However, not all nursing home residents are afforded the proper care and consideration that state laws govern they be granted. As a result, North Carolina nursing home abuse is a serious issue that can lead to negative consequences for vulnerable nursing home residents to endure.
North Carolina’s Bill of Rights for Nursing Home Residents lays out guidelines that nursing home administrators and caregivers are supposed to follow. According to the guidelines, every resident has the right:
- To be treated with consideration, respect, and full recognition of personal dignity and individuality.
- To receive care, treatment, and services that are adequate and appropriate, and in compliance with relevant federal and state statutes and rules.
- To be free of mental and physical abuse. To be free of chemical and physical restraint, except in emergencies, unless authorized for a specified period of time by a physician according to clear and indicated medical need.
- To receive from the administration or staff of the facility a reasonable response to all requests.
- To manage his/her own financial affairs unless other legal arrangements have been implemented. The facility may also assist the patient, but is required to follow stringent guidelines.
- To enjoy privacy in his/her room.
- To not be required to perform services for the facility without personal consent and the written approval of the attending physician.
- To retain, to secure storage for, and to use his personal clothing and possessions, where reasonable.
- To be notified within ten days after the facility’s license is revoked or made provisional. The responsible party or guardian must be notified as well.
Unfortunately, not all North Carolina nursing homes adhere to the above mentioned bill of rights, sometimes through no fault of administrators. Nevertheless, such action fosters an environment of negligent behavior and unsafe conditions that may have serious detrimental effects on residents.
If you believe that your loved one is not being treated within the scope of their rights in a North Carolina nursing home, please don’t hesitate to contact the Raleigh nursing home abuse lawyers at Allen L. Broughton, P.C. Our experienced North Carolina nursing home abuse attorneys will examine the circumstances under which your loved one was mistreated, and will hold all responsible parties accountable for their actions. For more information about nursing home abuse law in North Carolina, call 877-268-0808 for a free consultation of your case. We will fight to ensure that your elderly loved one’s rights are protected in court of law.
