Elder Law

McHenry County, Illinois Nursing Home Fined Nearly $360,000 in Angel of Death Case

By Levin & Perconti

A McHenry County, Illinois nursing home was fined nearly $360,000 after regulators alleged that an employee used drug cocktails to ensure residents ?would not be bothering her during her shift.? These fines were imposed after the Illinois Department of Public Health concluded that improper use of drugs like morphine sulfate contributed to the deaths in 2006 at the Illinois facility. The nurse is accused of stating that she made sure that a patient would not make it through the day. The nursing home was fined a record $300,000 by the state and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services added another $57,350 in penalties. The Department of Public Health said the most serious violations involved the use of ?chemical restraints? which are drugs used to sedate patients. State law prohibits using drugs to discipline nursing home residents or as a staff convenience. Levin & Perconti have already filed lawsuits on behalf of victims of the ?angel of death? case. To read the full story, click here.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on September 26, 2008 (boomark / email).