Duties Health Care Workers Owe to Patients

Wrongful Death

1

In a wrongful death lawsuit, any individual or entity that may have played a role in the patient\\\\\\\'s care and treatment can potentially be named as a defendant (Attaluri et al., 2023). In this case, the long-term care facility could have been named as a defendant because it had a duty to provide appropriate care to the patient, including ensuring that the prescribed medical treatment was provided. The facility could have been found negligent for not having a whirlpool, which was the prescribed treatment, and for not providing a safe bathing environment (Strine v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 2006).

The physician who prescribed the whirlpool bath could have also been named as a defendant because they had a duty to provide appropriate medical treatment for the patient\\\\\\\'s decubitus ulcers. If the physician failed to provide adequate instructions or supervision to ensure that the prescribed treatment was provided, they could have been found negligent.

The certified nursing assistant who prepared the bath and placed the patient in dangerously hot water could have been named as a defendant because they had a duty to provide appropriate care to the patient during the bath. If the CNA was not properly trained or supervised, or if they failed to follow appropriate safety protocols, they could have been found negligent.

Other healthcare providers involved in the patient\\\\\\\'s care, such as nurses or aides, could have also potentially been named as defendants if they were found to have contributed to the patient\\\\\\\'s injuries or death through their actions or inactions. Ultimately, the specific individuals or entities named in the lawsuit would depend on the circumstances of the case and the evidence presented.

2

The patient\\\\\\\'s death could have been prevented if the long-term care facility had provided the prescribed medical treatment of a whirlpool bath, which would have been a safer alternative to a regular bath. The facility could have also ensured that the bathwater temperature was appropriate and safe for the patient, and that the CNA was properly trained and supervised to avoid any mishaps during the bath. In addition, the facility could have implemented protocols to monitor the patient\\\\\\\'s condition, including the development of infections, and provide appropriate medical care when needed. It appears to be the case, however, that a culture of negligence had developed at the facility.

3

The four elements of negligence in this case are:

· Duty: The healthcare providers had a duty to provide proper care and treatment to the patient, including following the physician\\\\\\\'s orders for a whirlpool bath and ensuring that the bathwater temperature was safe (Hossain, 2021).