When a resident of a nursing home or long term care facility is prescribed medication to treat an ailment, that resident should receive the medication as prescribed and/or as needed. The family members of these residents should not be forced to worry about whether the medication will be administered properly and the residents themselves should not have to suffer due to delays or missed dosages.
Yet despite the requirements that employees administer drugs appropriately and as scheduled, numerous incidents happen in Illinois every year that involve improper dosing or skipped medication. Illinois is not the only state to suffer from these issues though as it is becoming a problem across the nation. The impact of missed medication can be minor or it can be extreme and in some cases, even fatal. Certain types of medication must be spaced precisely or the consequences can be dire.
In late January, an employee at an Indianapolis nursing home was arrested on suspicion of stealing medication from some residents of the home. Additionally, work records show the employee had regular shifts at two other nursing homes in the city, making her access to patients and their medications vast. Local officials and those with the Drug Enforcement Agency have not disclosed which specific medication were allegedly stolen or whether any patients were harmed as a result.
At the time of her arrest, the employee allegedly had controlled substances on her person that she did not possess a prescription for. She is now facing charges of interfering with medical services and obtaining controlled substances by theft or fraud.
Elderly patients may experience severe pain if they are not given their pain medication on time. Those who need anticonvulsants may be prone to seizures or other serious complications when medication is not properly administered and those who are receiving palliative care and endure great suffering if their medication is taken. Despite this, employees who are entrusted with the care of these residents continue to cause suffering when they act negligently or intentionally by stealing or missing dosages of medication.
When neglect or abuse happens at a nursing home in Illinois, call Abels & Annes, P.C. and let us help you understand the legal implications as they apply to you and your loved one. We have a lawyer standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and we offer all injury victims a no-cost, no-obligation case consultation when they call.
If you have reason to suspect abuse or neglect in a long term care setting, call Abels & Annes, P.C. now and let us help you seek the relief you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Nursing Home Patient Dead from Hypothermia, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, published January 21, 2015.
Resource:
DEA accuses nursing home aide of stealing pills, by Brian Eason, INDYSTAR.com, published January 30, 2015.