You know what makes me furious? Learning of gross negligence involving the care of vulnerable people with severe disabilities resulting in death!
On Feb. 21, a Stepping Stones for Living resident "received electroconvulsive therapy from a specialized clinic and was told to expect to be groggy and sleepy.
"Upon returning to [Stepping Stones for Living], the person went to bed and never left it, and was declared dead almost 24 hours later.
“The (person) was largely unresponsive during most, if not every, check, and even when (staff) was shaking the (person’s) shoulder,” the report said. “In fact, during the almost 24 hours that the (person) remained in his/her bed, the (person) moved his/her body one time, and might have kicked his/her legs one or two times. The (person) also never got up to use the bathroom, never spoke a word, never opened his/her eyes, and missed all of his/her meals and scheduled medications.”
"One [Stepping Stones for Living] staffer went their ENTIRE SHIFT on the day of the person’s death without checking on the person, and documentation for safety checks was not filled out.
YET, somehow Stepping Stones for Living wiggled out of being held responsible for gross negligence--despite not even alerting the resident's guardian that after starting ECT, the resident began having seizures at the facility (a known side-effect of ECT).
When a patient develops seizures after treatment, the treatment is immediately suspended. It was not. Clearly the staff did not alert the ECT providers of the newly developed seizures.
The ECT providers were also negligent in that they did not ask if anything new had developed since the previous treatment, before giving the patient another round of 450 volts/900 milliamps/504 millicolumbs of electricity.
Is it any wonder I demand strict standardization of administration technique protocols, regulation of those protocols and and accountability of all involved persons?
Making matters even worse, The Minnesota Department of Health's Office of the Inspector General reported that “During the course of the investigation, we determined that … violations occurred... However, due to the unprecedented public health challenges during Minnesota’s peacetime state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a correction order will not be issued.”
Minnesota Department of Human Rights MUST pursue this case to prevent other vulnerable adults & children from suffering an ignominious--completely preventable death!
Sign this petition and share it with everyone to prevent atrocities hidden from the public.