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Group says nursing home laws too loose | Lansing State Journal | lansingstatejournal.com

Written by

 

Robin Erb

 

The Detroit Free Press

 

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An advocacy group for people with disabilities is calling for tougher state laws following documented errors at Michigan nursing homes that led to injury

or death among residents.

 

Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service, a private nonprofit, found numerous examples of neglect or abuse in state inspection reports on nursing homes in

the state.

 

"Why is it that we allow nursing homes to continue this way? It's unacceptable," said Tom Masseau, a spokesman for the group.

 

In a list of recommendations, to be issued today, the group calls on state lawmakers to enact laws that will produce tougher and quicker sanctions against

abusive or negligent nursing home staffers. The group also seeks laws that require more consistent reporting of nursing home errors and legislation to

make it more difficult for problem employees to get a job at other nursing facilities.

 

The group cites a number of examples in state reports on nursing facilities throughout Michigan dating to 2008, including: a Genesee County resident who

choked to death after a staffer incorrectly performed the Heimlich maneuver; a resident from Huron County who died after being given too much morphine,

a death the home did not report to the state, and a Midland County resident who suffered a fractured skull and eventually died after being improperly transferred

from a wheelchair. That home, too, failed to report the incident to the state.

 

In many cases, the advocacy group said, the nurses or aides involved were not disciplined.

 

The reports reviewed by the group were part of regular inspections, Masseau said. "Had it not been for the inspector being there that day and pulling that

file, it would have gone unreported," he said.

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20111121/NEWS01/111210315/Group-says-nursing-home-laws-too-loose?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE