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Lala1958 Asked February 2020

My mom was in a memory care facility and this year they did not give her a flu shot, do I pursue this?

My mom passed away from the flu as did 3 other residents in her unit within 4 weeks. When I asked why my mom didn’t get her shot this year as in past from a traveling Nursing agency, I was told that my mom's doctor did not believe in the flu shot!

LoopyLoo Feb 2020
I am sorry for your loss. Like MidKid said, one of the first emotions when this happens is anger.

I don't think legal action would be very helpful. This could result in a long, drawn-out, expensive and emotionally draining scenario. It won't be easy to prove that your mother would not have died if she'd gotten the shot.

My mother felt the same way when her mother passed. For a few weeks it was "Well, if that nurse/doctor hadn't done this or that". But after she'd had some time to calm down a little and think, she realized it was no one's fault. Her mother was 92 with congestive heart failure, and it was her time.

Midkid58 Feb 2020
Anger is our first knee-jerk response--but the truth is, even WITH the flu shot, there have been a lot of deaths this year due to the flu. esp in the elderly and compromised.

Some geritatric drs don't believe in giving their aged patients the flu shot, that's not the first time I've heard that. I had just finished chemotherapy at the point last fall when I would have normally had the flu shot and my doc said it would be absolutely pointless. So, I have been battling the flu all week and have felt rotten. But the shot would have done nothing for me, in my immunocompromised state.

I'm sorry for your loss. But everyone will die of something--you could never, ever prove that the dr didn't act in his patient's best interest.

Let it go and let your mourning and grieving take its natural course. I'm sorry for your loss.

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cwillie Feb 2020
Oh 😱😠. My first instinct is to pursue it to the gate of h3ll if necessary, but my saner head wonders if it may be healthier for you to set it aside and move forward with your life.
And I'm so sorry for your loss.

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