Withholding Pain Medications Leads to Agony for Vulnerable Seniors

Doctors often prescribe medication to manage the pain of these individuals so that they can live as normally as possible.  However, nursing home abusers can withhold pain medications so that they can control the patient or convince the patient to perform some action.  Some abusers will withhold medication and tell the patient that they will be given the medication if they give in to a request for money or possessions.  The patient becomes so overwrought with pain that he or she may give in to the request just to get some relief.  Another form of nursing home abuse involves giving the incorrect amounts of prescribed drugs to patients.  Because the effects of many medications depend on body weight, metabolism, the amount of food eaten with the medication, and other factors, dosage administration guidelines are very specific.  When a physician orders medication for a patient, he or she takes all of those factors into consideration to come up with the correct dose for that individual.  Nursing home abusers often administer the wrong doses of prescribed medication.  Too little medication means that residents’ conditions are not managed correctly.  Abusers can also administer too much of a prescribed medication.  This can lead to loss of consciousness, coma, and even death.  If you feel that your loved one is not being given the proper medication dosages, speak with a physician or nursing home administrator.  If your concerns are not investigated thoroughly, consult with a Los Angeles nursing home abuse attorney to see what your options are for investigating the abuse.