"Nursing home abuse owner criminal prosecution appears to be on the rise"
October 19 , 2003
Federal official believe inadequate staffing is the biggest cause of nursing home abuse neglect in facilities. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that 9 out of 10 nursing homes employ too few workers to provide adequate care, and over 40% of all homes need to increase their nurse aide staff by at least 50%.
Congress is considering legislation that would establish federal criminal penalties for nursing home abuse and neglect. If convicted, it could result in prison terms for individuals, in addition to corporate fines of up to $3 million. The nursing home abuse and neglect bill would also require the homes immediately report any reasonable suspicion of a crime to law enforcement officials.
According to a member of the National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, criminal prosecution of nursing home abuse owners appears to be increasing. Recent nursing home abuse cases include:
Florida Nursing Home Abuse:
In September 2003, owners of the Jewish Senior Living home in West Palm Beach were charged with eight counts of nursing home abuse neglect. Just days before that, owners in Riviera Beach were arrested and charged with three counts of neglect. Contact us for more information on Florida nursing home abuse.
Georgia Nursing Home Abuse:
In February 2003, an owner of a nursing home pleaded guilty to 15 counts of nursing home abuse and neglect. She was sentenced to 15 years probation and 500 hours of community service. Contact us for more information on Georgia nursing home abuse.
Hawaii Nursing Home Abuse:
In 2002, prosecutors got a manslaughter conviction against a nursing home after a resident died of septic shock because bedsore infections had continued to go untreated. Contact us for more information on Hawaii nursing home abuse.
Louisiana Nursing Home Abuse:
Owners of a nursing home agreed to pay $750,000 and to quit the nursing home business for seven years after federal prosecutors considered criminal charges because an 87-year old woman was strangled by a wheelchair seat belt. Contact us for more information on Louisiana nursing home abuse.
Michigan Nursing Home Abuse:
In April 2003, a Detroit nursing home medical director and nursing director were charged with involuntary manslaughter in the heat-related death of a resident. The prosecutors alleged the nursing home lacked air condition and fans and the windows would not open. Contact us for more information on Michigan nursing home abuse.
Missouri Nursing Home Abuse:
In February 2003, a nursing home management company president was sentenced to a year in prison for failing to report the beating death of a nursing home resident. In August 2003, another home manager was charged with involuntary manslaughter in a mentally disabled nursing home resident’s death. Contact us for more information on Missouri nursing home abuse.
New York Nursing Home Abuse:
At the start of October 2003, a New York nursing home chain agreed to pay the state $3 million to settle claims that the homes failed to provide adequate care to nursing home patients. By agreeing to settle the claims of nursing home abuse, the owners were able to avoid criminal charges that had come from a grand jury investigation after reports of testimony of nursing home employees.
In June 2003, the Hallmark Nursing Centre chain pleaded guilty to criminal charges, including inadequate care, falsification of patient files, and deliberately employing too few caregivers to meet resident needs leading the New York nursing home owners to agree to refrain from operating any New York nursing homes. Contact us for more information on New York nursing home abuse.
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