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Car Accident

Back Up! Increasing Stopping Distance Prevents a Palm Beach Car Accident

Knowing how far to travel behind other cars is key to avoiding a Palm Beach car accident. Many drivers follow too closely at high speeds, leaving them far too little braking time. Others know that they should follow...

Product Liability and Design Defects

Product liability" is the area of the law enabling recovery for those injured by defective products. Some commentators suggest it reflects a balance between the benefits that society as a whole reaps from technological developments ve...

Social Security Disability

There are 2 disability programs that are administered by Social Security: Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). While both programs require a finding of "total disability", SSD provides benefits to individuals who have an employment history while S...

Q: Will I have to pay anything to hire a lawyer for my accident case?

A: Most, if not all, lawyers who represent personal injury victims, do so on what is known as a contingent fee basis. A contingent fee means that there is...

Resources For Our Clients

The Law Team at Fetterman & Associates has provided a list of useful resources to help answer your Florida accident questions. If you need to speak with one of our Palm Beach accident attorneys or Port St. Lucie auto accident lawyers, please contact us today.

When Nursing Home Restraints are Allowed in Florida

The thought of your loved one being drugged at his or her nursing home or tied to a chair probably makes you sick to your stomach. Yet, these types of physical and chemical restraints are sometimes allowed at Florida nursing home facilities. If your elderly family member resides in a nursing home, you need to understand when Florida nursing home restraints are permitted.

There are two main categories of nursing home restraints – physical and chemical. Physical restraints include hand mitts, bedrails, vests that tie residents to chairs or beds, wrist restraints, restrictive chairs and ankle restraints. Chemical restraints come in the form of psychoactive drugs. A nursing home restraint should not be used on a regular basis.

According to the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987, nursing home residents have the right to be free from physical and chemical restraints that are used for discipline or convenience of the staff. By no means should a resident be restrained because the nursing home is understaffed or as a form of punishment.

With the exception of an emergency, nursing home restraints must be ordered by a doctor, who will write out the details of how long it should be used and for what purpose. There are many dangers associated with restraint use, which is why residents must be closely monitored and regularly evaluated. The least restrictive method should be used.

Various problems have been linked to nursing home restraints, including emotional, mental and physical trauma. Residents who have been restrained have been known to become depressed, withdrawn and disoriented. They have also been known to suffer from bedsores and increased bone fragility. If your loved one, who is living in a nursing home, exhibits any of these warning signs of nursing home abuse, you need to seek legal advice immediately.

A Palm Beach nursing home abuse attorney at Fetterman & Associates – The Law Team can explain your legal options and your loved one’s rights. Contact us today at (866) 865-1244 for a free legal consultation.