Personal Injuries Stemming From Hospital Beds

According to the National Center for Personal Injury Protection, one out of 10 patients in the United States is treated for hospital bed injuries. The most common causes are falling out of bed, and becoming entrapped between the railing and the bed.

History

• Injury resulting from patients falling out of their hospital beds was first identified as a serious problem in 1893. Bed rails were initially designed for the elderly, sedated or confused patients as a temporary measure to address the issue. Bed rails were rarely available prior to the 1930s. Since 1985, after bed rails had become standard equipment, data on patients becoming trapped between the mattress and bed rail had been collected and studied. In 1995, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a formal warning to health care providers regarding injuries and deaths attributed to patients becoming entrapped in such a manner.

Statistics

• According to the FDA, accidents attributable to hospital beds resulted in 480 fatalities, 138 injuries and 185 close calls between 1986 and 2010. It is presumed that many injuries go unreported.

Liability

• Generally, the equipment manufacturer, supplier or health care facility is held liable for hospital bed-related injuries--not the doctor. Due to liability exposure, hospital bed designs now emphasize patient safety over patient comfort.