Wednesday, January 27, 2010

CT: Proposed Bill to Hold Nursing Home Criminally Responsible for Abuse and Neglect

State Sen. Edith Prague said she will re-introduce a bill this year that would make it easier to hold the owners of nursing homes criminally responsible for abuse and neglect of patients in their facilities.

“You can’t sue the state, but the nursing home owners who cut back on staffing I feel should be held responsible,” she said. The bill passed the state Senate last year, but died in the House.

Prague said a public hearing will be held in front of the Select Committee on Aging on Feb. 16 in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. The time and room have not been set yet.

Prague’s bill would require the Department of Public Health to include a notice in nursing home applications telling owners they could be held criminally accountable for abuse and neglect of residents by their employees.

Godialis said one issue is that many nursing homes in Connecticut are owned by people who live outside the state and believe they can’t be responsible for neglect if they don’t see it or participate in it.

Full Article and Source:
Bill Would Hole Nursing Home Owners Criminally Responsible for Abuse, Neglect

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good going Sen. Edith Praque, the nursing homes should be held accountable. The cut staff trying to pad their own greedy pockets, and the residents suffer. We are to care for the elderly and the system is crumbling.

Max said...

Holding nursing homes criminally responsible for abuse and neglect????

Wow. Thank you, Sen. Prague!

StandUp said...

This is wonderful news. Hopefully Senator Edityh Prague will lead the way to reform for nursing homes. Now that would be an accomplishment of a lifetime!

Anonymous said...

I hope there is standing room only at the hearing on February 16th.

Betty said...

If a person neglected their loved one and/or abused him/her, there would be criminal penalties, no question. But nursing homes negelect and abuse everyday and that's called "care".

Ben said...

Keep pushing, Sen. Prague!

Connie said...

Eeeeeek, I'm worried about Sen. Prague. The nursing home lobby is one of the most powerful (and richest) lobbies. They won't take kindly to her standing up in favor of the citizens of CT over greed and profit.

jerri said...

good job!

LoriView said...

Best news I've heard all day.

My father died in a CT nursing home, under suspicious circumstances.

Anonymous said...

If I lend you my car and you have an accident, we are both sued - you as driver and me as owner.
Why hasn't criminal neglect been attributed to owners previously?

wisernow said...

Follow the $$$$ signs!!!

Who do suppose contributes heavily to the campaign war chests of the state legislators and federal legislators?

Here is part of your answer:

1) lobbyists,

2) special interest goups bribe oh excuse me, lobby, the legislators to write their bills and laws in their favor, (some are bought some do not go along with the plan), while WE the chump taxpayers pay their salaries, expenses, health care, pensions etc.

Isn't this a crock of: _ _ _ _????