New York Nursing Home Impedes Sexual Assault Investigation, Fined $10,000

The New York State Health Department recently fined a Buffalo-area nursing home $10,000 for destroying evidence of an alleged sexual assault that took place at the nursing home. Officials claim that nursing home staff also waited hours before reporting the assault. 

According to a report from The Buffalo News, staff from the Gowanda Rehabilitation and Nursing Center waited more than six hours before reporting the May 29 assault to the police. A 73-year-old male resident sexually assaulted an 88-year-old female resident around 4:30 a.m. on May 29. According to the article, both residents suffer from dementia and the female resident cannot leave her bed without the help of a mechanical lift. 

Nursing home staff members checked in on the female resident after hearing her shout “No” to the man, but decided they didn’t find evidence of a sexual assault. Later, a staff member cleaned the woman and changed her underwear, destroying any evidence that could have been examined by the police. 

The alleged victim’s daughter filed a civil suit against the nursing home’s owners in September, though on Nov. 4 the owners denied responsibility. 

Unfortunately, abuse in nursing homes is relatively common and is generally underreported. According to a study by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, for every report filed by a victim of nursing home abuse, there are five cases that go unreported. Whether you or a loved one has been the victim of abuse from a nursing home staff member or a fellow resident, there are professional nursing home abuse attorneys who will fight for you, such as the ones at Hach & Rose, LLP. 

Contact a New York Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one have been victimized in a nursing home, contact the experienced nursing home abuse lawyers of Hach & Rose, LLP at (212) 779-0057. We are here to support you through this challenging time, so call us or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation today. We’ll help you understand your rights and legal options, and will help you get the justice you deserve.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What’s in Your Kitchen?  Whoopie Pies, Drinks, Raisins, and Chickpea Salad

What’s in Your Kitchen? MakeFoodSafe.com would like to help you keep your family safe from unsafe foods.  Each week we bring together a list of the current recalls.  Some recalls are issued due to undeclared allergens, which could cause serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if someone sensitive to the product consumes it.  Other recalls are issued due to contamination with harmful material or other health risk.  Check back often and evaluate your fridge, pantry, and shopping list to make sure you can identify which foods to avoid. Stewart’s Shops Corp Recalls Cranberry Apple Refresher Due to Undeclared Allergen Stewarts Shops Corp of Saratoga Springs, New York issued a recall on October 17, 2018 for their approximately 2,300 units of Cranberry Apple Refresher due to the undeclared allergen, milk.  Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk risk serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if the product is consumed. The recall was initiated...
Read more

Injury Data Reveals Infrastructure Need for E-Scooter Riders in NY

The uptick in electric scooter riding in New York City has come with a slew of complications, including a rising number of scooter-related injuries . New York City leaders and scooter company officials alike are weighing their options for creating a safer transit environment for these e-scooters. One recent report suggests that the most promising option is to create more third-lane, or bike lane, options for electric scooters. This report, compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), found that most people who are injured in scooter accidents were riding on a sidewalk at the time of their accident. Their research suggests that scooter riders often do not feel safe enough to share the road with cars, so they opt for using sidewalks when bike lanes are not available. While this may keep scooter riders safe from colliding with vehicles, it puts pedestrians who use sidewalks at a greater risk. The data show that three out of every five scooter riders who were injured s...
Read more

Food Safety Better at Fast Food or Full-Service Restaurants?

When you go out to eat, there is a level of trust you are putting in the hands of the people who are preparing your food.  There are regulations in place, health department inspections, and a cleanliness factor you expect of a food establishment.  But the bottom line is, a large number of foodborne illnesses occur as a result of eating at a fast food or full-service restaurant establishment.  According to the FDA Report on the Occurrence of Foodborne Illness Risk Factors in Fast Food and Full Service Restaurants, 2013-2014, prepared by the FDA National Retail Food Team, “Consumer demand for food away from home has led to increased spending in both fast food and full-service restaurants.”  According to the study, there are over one million restaurants employing more than 14 million food service workers. So, food safety as it related to fast food and food service is a thing. Food borne illness is serious.  According to the Center for Disease Control and Preventi...
Read more