Is a Nursing Home Responsible if a Resident Pulls Out Tubes?

 Posted on July 15, 2025 in Breathing Tube Injuries

When a loved one is staying in a nursing home, families expect a basic level of care that includes constant supervision, dignity, and protection from foreseeable harm. So what happens when a resident with dementia or confusion pulls out life-sustaining tubes or medical devices and is seriously injured or killed? Many facilities try to argue that these injuries are the resident’s fault. However, under Illinois law, a nursing home cannot escape responsibility simply because an elderly resident is cognitively impaired.

In Illinois, nursing home residents are frequently admitted with feeding tubes, oxygen delivery systems, catheters, or central lines. These devices are necessary to keep them alive and stable. When dislodged, they can lead to choking, sepsis, hemorrhaging, and even death. The risk of this kind of nursing home injury is well-known in the long-term care industry, and that means facilities must plan for it.

If your loved one was injured after removing a medical device, whether by accident or because they were agitated, frightened, or neglected, you have legal options and our Winnebago County long-term care injury lawyers are here to help you understand them. This blog explains when a nursing home may be liable under Illinois law and what families should know when filing a claim.

Understanding Why Nursing Home Residents Remove Tubes

Many residents who pull out tubes are not doing so out of malice or intent. Instead, they may suffer from dementia, delirium, post-surgical confusion, or emotional distress. A resident may remove a feeding tube because they think it is hurting them or that someone is trying to poison them. Others are in physical discomfort and are trying to relieve pressure or pain. In some cases, they are simply trying to go to the bathroom but become entangled in medical equipment.

These are not rare incidents. Studies show that tube dislodgement is a known hazard in long-term care, especially among residents with moderate to severe cognitive decline. Facilities must anticipate and plan for this. Under the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act and relevant federal regulations, nursing homes are required to assess risk factors on admission and to update care plans as conditions evolve.

Nursing Homes Have Legal Responsibilities to Monitor Residents Who Pull Out Tubes

Under Illinois law, nursing homes are required to provide "adequate and properly supervised nursing care" and to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable injuries. That includes supervision, fall prevention, and protection against self-harm in cognitively impaired residents. Failing to monitor a resident known to tamper with medical devices may be considered negligence or even willful misconduct.

The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act allows residents and their families to bring a civil action against facilities that cause harm through neglect or abuse. It does not matter whether the resident meant to cause the injury. The key legal question is whether the nursing home acted reasonably in assessing risk and implementing safeguards.

Examples of Nursing Home Negligence

Some families are told by staff that their loved one "just got confused" or that there was "nothing we could do." These explanations may be emotionally manipulative and legally inaccurate. Consider the following examples where a nursing home might be held responsible:

• A resident with a known history of tube removal is left unsupervised for extended periods of time, despite repeated documentation of agitation.

• The facility failed to conduct a behavioral assessment or care plan meeting after a prior tube removal incident.

• A resident with dementia is placed in a shared room with another agitated resident, who pulls the IV line out during a fight.

• Staff ignored call lights or family concerns about restlessness, pacing, or repeated gestures toward the tube.

Even if staff members were busy or understaffed, that does not mean the facility is not still responsible. Understaffing itself may be evidence of systemic negligence. Both federal and state laws require adequate staffing and supervision.

Documentation and Evidence in Nursing Home Injury Cases

If your loved one suffered an injury due to tube dislodgement, swift documentation is critical. Facilities often claim that the resident was "alert and oriented" or that "they pulled it out in their sleep." Families should request the following:

• Incident reports and nurse’s notes for the day of the event

• Video surveillance footage, if available

• Prior care plans and behavior logs

• Any psychiatric or cognitive assessments

• Witness statements or staff shift logs

In some cases, nursing homes also attempt to alter or falsify records. A nursing home injury attorney can issue subpoenas to secure original records and depose facility staff under oath. If your loved one was hospitalized after the event, hospital records can be compared against the facility’s account of what happened.

What if a Nursing Home Uses Restraints? 

Sometimes, nursing homes use physical or chemical restraints to prevent residents from pulling out tubes. This can include tying a resident’s hands, placing them in a geri-chair, or sedating them with medications like Ativan or Haldol. These methods raise separate legal concerns.

Under federal law, restraints may not be used for discipline or staff convenience. They must be medically justified, with proper consent and documentation. If your loved one was restrained improperly or suffered injury despite being restrained, that may support a claim for neglect or abuse.

Common Outcomes in Nursing Home Tube Injury Claims

When a resident suffers serious harm from dislodging a feeding tube or IV, claims often result in substantial settlements. In recent Illinois cases, families have recovered compensation for:

• Emergency surgery or intensive care hospitalization

• Infections and long-term complications

• Emotional trauma and distress

• Wrongful death

• Pain and suffering before death

Nursing homes often want to settle these claims quietly to avoid public scrutiny. However, pursuing legal action also ensures that facilities change their policies and take better care of future residents.

Contact a Nursing Home Injury Attorney in Winnebago County, IL

If your loved one pulled out a feeding tube, oxygen line, catheter, or IV while under nursing home supervision, you may have grounds for legal action. A St. Clair County, IL nursing home injury attorney at Schwartz Injury Law can investigate the circumstances, review medical records, and hold the facility accountable. Call 312-535-4625 to schedule a free consultation today.