I was absolutely appalled to read a blog post about doctors' failure to report suspected elder abuse in nursing homes.
The Tennessee Injury Lawyer Blog stated today that "only 2% of all cases of suspected nursing home or other elder abuse/neglect is reported by doctors", and previous studies have shown that the percentage is actually lower than that!
Now, I'm aware that the population of the United States is becoming older, and as the Baby Boomers begin to retire (and I am on the tail end of that generation, having been born in 1959), more and more nursing homes and assisted living facilities will be needed in order to meet demand.
Many elders wind up in nursing homes and do not have anyone to visit them, monitor their care, advocate for their needs, and otherwise look out for their best interests. If doctors refuse to report suspected abuse---and the Hippocractic Oath is a serious oath to "do no harm"---then who can we trust to look after our elders' interests?
So, why are doctors rarely the individuals who report abuse? Are doctors too busy? Are they too overwhelmed with paperwork to see the forest for the trees? Or do doctors where special types of blinders that prevent them from seeing signs of distress or abuse or neglect?
Everyone knows that nursing homes are as different from one another as any business or facility. Some are good, some are bad, some are benignly neglectful, and others are downright nasty. But how can anyone really know unless they spend time in one and watch what goes on? And aren't doctors trained to look closely with a critical and searching eye?
Of course, we nurses have been and always will be advocates for our patients, but abuse can happen at any time, on any shift, by any member of the staff. Orderlies, maintenance workers, nurses, doctors, therapists, nurses aides, outside contractors, administrators, visitors---even other patients---can perpetrate abuse.
We all must be vigilant, and I am highly disturbed that doctors account for such a small percentage of reports of elder abuse. Something is wrong with this picture.
