CHICAGO–FeganScott, an Illinois-based law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of patients and consumers, today launched an investigation into a number of assisted living, long-term care and skilled nursing facilities that have failed to uphold adequate safeguards and care in response to the COVID-19 outbreak for residents in Will, Kane, Kendall and DuPage counties in Illinois.
“This is certainly a difficult time, but these facilities and nursing homes have obligations to follow requirements enacted by local health authorities and the CDC”
“Let’s be very clear, this is not an indictment of the vast majority of nursing homes who are doing great work by quickly adapting to meet the needs of residents and their families during this unprecedented time,” said Tim Scott, the firm’s founding partner and managing member. “Specifically, we’re looking into allegations that a number of Illinois long-term care facilities put their residents at risk by failing to implement sufficient protocols to identify and limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, and by failing to report infections (and in some cases, deaths) to the appropriate health care authorities or the residents’ families.”
The firm has learned that these long-term care facilities in Illinois had not publicly reported COVID-19 case numbers and fatalities statewide. Other reports allege some of the facilities are not following CDC guidelines, and the firm’s investigation aims to protect vulnerable residents from infection or negligence.
“This is certainly a difficult time, but these facilities and nursing homes have obligations to follow requirements enacted by local health authorities and the CDC,” Scott said. “This isn’t only for the safety of the residents; we have to think about the impact on visitors and other family members who might not know the extent of what is going on.”
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