Former Employee Criminally Charged for Stealing Medication from Nursing Home Patients

When a family member or a loved one is in a nursing home, it can be difficult to know whether he or she is receiving the proper care needed for any ailments or injuries. Today, the demand placed on long-term care facilities in Illinois, including nursing homes, has increased from decades’ past and will continue to increase as the American population ages. Experts agree that the increased demand on nursing homes may lead to greater nursing home abuse and neglect if homes fail to adapt and change staffing levels in response.

Nursing home abuse happening daily across the nation and Illinois is no example. With trends projected to continue into the future, these incidents of abuse and neglect threaten not only current patients of nursing homes but also those who will reside in homes in the coming years.

When abuse happens and a resident is injured, that victim may be entitled to financial compensation through the use of a civil claim for damages. The right to seek a recovery may pass to the victim’s family members or loved ones if a victim loses his or her life, but no amount of compensation will be adequate in these cases. Consulting with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Chicago may help you understand your options, including whether you or your family is entitled to relief, if you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect.

A former employee of a nursing home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin has been arrested and charged with possession of narcotics, and officials are trying to determine whether the employee gained access to narcotics through her position at the nursing home. According to officials, employees of the home reported missing medication to local authorities, who responded and spoke with the defendant, who was employed at the home, regarding the drugs. Allegedly, the defendant, a 43-year-old nurse, had narcotics in her possession, admitted to being addicted to the drugs, and admitted that she did not have a prescription for the medication; however, the defendant reportedly denied taking the drugs from the nursing home or from patients there. Following her arrest, the defendant was terminated from her position at the nursing home.

Medication in a nursing home is a critical part of care and treatment and any delay in dosage or skipped administration of medication can lead to a range of injuries from an increase in pain, worsening infection, stroke, heart attack, seizure, or even death. Yet despite these risks, there have been numerous reports of employees taking or withholding medication from nursing home patients across the country in 2014 alone.

 

 

If you suspect your loved one has not received the care and treatment needed or deserved, you and your family may be entitled to seek relief for your losses through the use of a civil claim for damages. These claims can be complicated and nearly impossible to sort through without the assistance of a skilled attorney, so the personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. offer a free case consultation to all those who contact us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575.

At Abels & Annes, P.C., we only represent victims and we never represent nursing homes or insurance companies, and if you suspect abuse, we want to represent you as well. There is no obligation for speaking with us and everything discussed will be kept confidential so do not hesitate. Call Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us help your family seek the relief you deserve.

Prior Blog Entry:

Nursing Home Residents Not Tested for Blood Sugar Levels, According to State Officials, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, published October 17, 2014.

Resource:

NEW INFORMATION: Narcotic possession charge filed against former nursing home employee, by Andrew Fefer, WEAU.com, published October 29, 2014.