• Call the Police.  Report it to the hospital immediately. If the hospital does not call the police, you call the police right away and tell them you suspect that yourself or your family member or friend has been abused while under the care of the facility.

 

• Support the victim.  Talk to the victim about the abuse in a non-judgmental way. If yourself or a family member or friend discloses sex abuse remind yourself, or that person, that what happened was not your or their fault. If it is a family member or friend, keep the lines of communication open and tell them that you will do whatever you can to support him or her.

 

• Gather Records.  Gather any records for yourself or your family member or friend that pertain to their care at the psychiatric or mental health facility. These records may contain important evidence relating to the abuse that took place in the facility.

 

• Contact an Attorney.  Sexual abuse against patients in a hospital or psychiatric facility is a crime and there are also civil damages to compensate the victim and hold the perpetrator accountable. The police department and prosecutor's office will handle the criminal charges against you or your family member or friend’s abuser. You may also be able to file a civil lawsuit against the hospital or psychiatric facility where the abuse occurred.

 

WE REPRESENT VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND SUICIDE THAT OCCUR AT MENTAL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

AND NURSING HOMES

 

If you or someone you know was the victim of sexual abuse, suicide or molestation in a nursing home or mental health care facility, our Firm may be able to help. To learn whether you can file a civil lawsuit for money damages against the facility where the abuse took place, contact us online at www.swflalawyers.com or call 239-334-1600.