In a recent Baltimore nursing home lawyer blog, our attorneys discussed a nursing home abuse incident involving a former nursing aide, where the worker reportedly removed the Fentanyl pain medication patch from an elderly resident in order to take the pain medication for her own personal recreational drug use.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a local hospice nurse has been charged in a similar elder abuse incident, after being caught on a surveillance video taking narcotic pain medication from an elderly person in the patient’s home.
A family member of the elderly patient reportedly contacted the police about the possibility of elder abuse and narcotic theft, after noticing that the pain killers that were prescribed to the patient were taken. The nurse, Amy M. Armstrong, was reportedly arrested after agents working for the Cherokee narcotics squad observed her taking the pills. After Armstrong was arrested, she was allegedly found to have other pills in her possession including anti-depressants and pain killers.
Armstrong was charged with two counts of elder abuse, two counts of felony theft for taking the medication, and two counts of possession of controlled substances.
The National Center on Elder Abuse states that elder abuse is the knowledge of or intentional act of negligence by a healthcare provider or any other person who causes harm or risk of great harm to a vulnerable senior in a physical, emotional, or sexual way, including exploitation and abandonment.
As our Hartford County elder abuse lawyers have reported in a previous blog post, in order to prevent elder abuse, there is a great need for public awareness in communities. According to the NCEA, it is important to educate seniors, healthcare providers, families, caregivers, bankers, or even church members so that any information that could indicate that a senior is being neglected or abused can be reported, and the necessary actions can be taken.
In Baltimore, Maryland, all residents have the right to experience healthcare that is free from elder abuse and acts of negligence in an environment that promotes the health and safety of the patient and improves their quality of life. Contact our nursing home attorneys today for a free consultation about your rights.
Nurse charged with stealing drugs, elder abuse, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 24, 2011
Related Web Resources:
National Center on Elder Abuse: What is elder abuse?
Abuse & Neglect Consumer Fact Sheet, The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, NCCNHR
What is Abuse: Why Should I Care About Elder Abuse?, National Center on Elder Abuse, NCEA
What is Elder Abuse?, Department of Health & Human Services: Administration on Aging
Frequently Asked Questions, National Center on Elder Abuse, NCEA
International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Related Blog Posts:
Types of Elder Abuse and Neglect in Nursing Homes, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, March 8, 2011
Hollywood Legend Mickey Rooney Testifies in Congress About Elder Abuse, March 30, 2011
Elder Abuse—a Rampant Problem in Nursing Homes, March 2, 2011
Children of Hollywood Actor Gene Barry Sue Nursing Home for Elder Abuse and Negligence, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, December 15, 2010
White House Honors Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, June 17, 2010
Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, October 12, 2009