Families should send a complaint to California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to trigger an investigation into the facility’s licensing compliance. Loved ones could also submit a complaint to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in some cases, spawning an inquiry.
Families would want to make sure an overdose death was reported to local law enforcement. The possibility of criminal activity should spark a local investigation.
A skilled Bakersfield Drug Rehab Facility Negligence Lawyer can also conduct a full investigation and even turn evidence over to health and law enforcement officials. The proof found can be critical in showing that the treatment center staff was negligent and should be responsible for a tragic death.
Our lawyers provide a free case consultation to all families who have lost someone to a Bakersfield drug rehab clinic tragedy. It’s a chance to find out what a wrongful death case can provide and who to force a facility to accept responsibility.
Demanding an Investigation for a Negligent Drug Rehab Facility
Families can feel like they are the only ones speaking up for a loved one who appears all but forgotten after a tragic accident at a Kern County drug rehab. The accident might involve a fentanyl overdose, a failure to monitor vital signs, or a deadly fall for an addiction patient who was struggling with balance.
Fortunately, families can depend on an experienced Bakersfield Wrongful Death Lawyer to force facility owners and operators to account for what happened and why it occurred.
But families and their attorneys can also call for expanded investigations and even call into question an unsafe facility’s credentials to provide care.
There are a few steps loved ones can take to make sure justice is served after a patient’s death:
- California drug rehab facilities are required to notify the state’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) within 24 hours of a tragic death. Loved ones of the victim should make sure this is completed. Then they can also file a complaint The DHCS would investigate what happened and have access to records kept at the negligent facility. The inclusion of past accidents or violations may uncover a wider problem.
- The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) can also be alerted if the facility is a licensed health facility. A complaint filed may force the facility to undergo a review, uncovering any rampant problems.
- Local Law Enforcement. The police may already be aware of a death at the clinic. In cases involving a drug overdose, questions over the distribution of a Schedule II controlled substance like fentanyl would likely spark an investigation. Families should alert authorities to a possible drug violation inside a facility if they haven’t received word yet. They should also cooperate with officers and turn over any evidence found on a loved one’s cell phone or in other communications.
Evidence Uncovered by a Drug Rehab Clinic Negligence Lawyer
A skilled lawyer can also look into the exact circumstances of a tragic accident and sometimes spark a large investigation by city, county, or state officials.
Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers would demand answers to these questions and more.
- How did a victim get access to a drug (in the case of an overdose)?
- Was security strong enough to prevent drugs from making their way into the facility?
- Was the patient being properly monitored for overdose or other harm?
- Was 911 called immediately?
- Were the proper steps taken to help the patient afterward (e.g., administering Narcan, placing the patient on their side to prevent choking on vomit)
- Are staff members trained properly, and are they monitored closely enough?
With the evidence proving the mistakes staff members made that contributed to a tragic death, an attorney can file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the family.
Through this claim, close relatives can seek help with their funeral bills and remaining hospital invoices. They should receive help replacing the income the victim may have provided the family with each week.
Families should also receive support for the future, for the care and guidance they’ll need to face the future without. This should factor in the special moments that have been lost with someone, such as during holiday gatherings, weddings, and the birth of children.
Our website contains more information for families about the support available through a wrongful death claim.
Contact a Bakersfield Drug Rehab Facility Negligence Attorney
After an overdose death at a Kern County drug rehab facility, family members need to take action to draw attention to a needless death that could have been prevented. A full investigation can put a spotlight on a negligent facility and also help those left behind earn support to protect themselves financially in the future.
A first step in seeking justice can include a free case review with Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers. This meeting comes with no strings attached and is always confidential. All family members are welcome to take advantage of this no-risk opportunity to find out how to earn the victim and family members the most in support possible.
Keep in mind that families never need to worry about finding the money to hire a drug overdose negligence lawyer. We work on a contingency basis for families going through such a difficult experience. It means we don’t accept any payment unless we win the case for our clients. Then, our attorney’s fee comes out of the settlement or judgment that a drug rehab facility must provide.