The New York Attorney General’s Office has announced the arrest of a former Director of Nursing Services of a Queens nursing home for falsifying facility records to cover-up that a 74 year old resident, who suffers from dementia and high blood pressure, was missing from the facility.
The 43 year old female Mount Vernon, NY resident has been charged with one count of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person in the first degree, one count of falsifying business records in the first degree, two counts of falsifying business records in the second degree, and one count of willful violation of the health laws. According to state law, if convicted, she could be sentenced up to four years in prison.
According to police records, on May 26th, the defendant failed to call 911 to report that a resident was missing from the facility. Instead, the Attorney General’s Office alleges that she instructed a staff member to falsely state in the resident’s records that the resident left “against medical advice” (AMA) and told staff members not to call police. On May 29th, investigators from the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit showed up at the Bishop Charles Waldo Maclean Episcopal Nursing Home and requested the defendant call 911 to report the patient missing. She refused, insisting the patient left the nursing home AMA. The next day, the resident was finally reported missing. The elderly man has yet to be found.
In a statement released the press, Attorney General Schneiderman stated, “I have no tolerance for individuals who neglect seniors in the care of a nursing home. Our most vulnerable citizens deserve high-quality care and peace of mind. Because this individual acted recklessly and unlawfully, someone who needs care is missing.”
When a family member or loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, you need an experienced Virginia nursing home abuse attorney who can protect your loved one’s rights, and seek legal and medical compensation from those responsible. If you see signs of nursing home abuse or neglect, take immediate action. Our firm has published an in-depth report on nursing home abuse and neglect in Virginia. This page features our firm’s answers to frequently asked questions about nursing home abuse and neglect.
Bishop Charles Waldo Maclean Episcopal Nursing Home