In an effort to put a stop to nursing home abuse and neglect, South Carolina Code 44-81-10 et al. created a Bill of Rights for residents in order to inform them of their rights and the laws nursing homes must abide by in order to provide the best care.
Some of the rights of nursing home residents include:
- The right to choose a personal attending physician
- The right to be fully informed in advance about care/treatment or changes in care/treatment that may affect the resident’s well-being
- The right to participate in planning care/treatment or changes in care/treatment.
- The right to be free from physical or mental abuse, corporal punishment, involuntary seclusion, and any physical or chemical restraints imposed for purposes of discipline or convenience and not required to treat the resident’s medical symptoms
- The right to privacy with regard to accommodations, medical treatment, written and oral communications, and visits
- The right to confidentiality of personal and clinical records and security in storing personal possessions
There have been countless reports of nursing home attendants taking advantage of residents in ways that violate these rights. It is important for residents to know their rights and it is the duty of a nursing home to inform each resident, written and orally, of these legal rights at the beginning of his or her stay.
If you feel as though you or a loved one’s rights have been violated in a nursing home, then you should consider filing an abuse claim against the nursing home. Here at Shelly Leeke Law Firm, our South Carolina nursing home abuse attorneys can provide you with a free consultation to give you all the information you need in order to file a claim. Call us today at 1-888-690-0211.
