How Companies Sometimes Put Profit Over Nursing Home Care
December 5th, 2018By Zach Christiansen of The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm, A Professional Law Corporation on Wednesday, December 5, 2018.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana. The Washington Post recently performed an in-depth investigation into how a private equity Firm’s acquisition of a nursing home company led to the alleged neglect of thousands of elderly and sick residents. According to , private equity Firms purchase companies that might be struggling and try to turn them around. However, when the goals of private equity Firms (make profit and cut costs) conflict with safety and industry standards, people can end up hurt or injured.
The Washington Post’s investigations found that under the management of the private equity Firm, the nursing home’s health code violations allegedly rose 26 percent. Reports indicate that when private equity companies purchase struggling companies, fund managers may make decisions that increase their profits, but may not ultimately promote the long-term survival of the business. Part of the problem, Vice reports, is that some managers of private equity gain more when a company declares bankruptcy than they could gain if the company stayed profitable.
Unfortunately, the poor often suffer the most. Many companies that cater to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable get purchased by private equity Firms. Nursing homes are not the only services that have been taken over by private equity. The New York Times reported in 2016 that ambulance services and fire services have also been purchased by private equity Firms. When these services cut costs, the consequence can sometimes be problems with service. Some reports indicate that ambulance response times have gotten worse and others show that the failures of emergency personnel to respond in a timely manner has led to deaths or injuries.
If you or a loved one has suffered a nursing home injury, or if you believe that your loved one’s death or injuries were the result of a failure of emergency services to respond in time, you may want to speak to a qualified wrongful death lawyer, like The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Our Firm can review the circumstances of your injury or your loved one’s injuries. For example, if emergency services lacked proper equipment, our Firm may be able to help you seek compensation for injuries or losses you may have suffered as a result. If emergency services were understaffed or failed to respond in time, we may also be able to investigate the situation and possibly seek damages. Nursing home neglect and abuse is also a serious violation of public trust. When companies seek to put profits over their residents’ safety and health, they should be held accountable.
You may be entitled to collect a recovery if you or a loved one has been hurt due to the actions of ambulance personnel, emergency personnel, or nursing home facilities. Visit The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm, wrongful death and personal injury lawyers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana today to learn more about your options and rights.
The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm, A Professional Law Corporation
1615 Poydras Street, Suite 1050
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112
Phone: (504) 586-5200
Toll Free: (504) 586-5200
