Accused of Illinois Nursing Home Negligence in McHenry County, Former Facility’s Supervisor Testifies in Court
A woman facing seven felony charges over at least four questionable deaths at a McHenry County nursing home says that contrary to claims by Illinois police, she never admitted that she told staff members not to follow proper procedures when getting rid of the morphine used on patients who allegedly may have died from medication overdoses. Charges against her over the alleged Illinois nursing home negligence incidents include two counts of obstructing justice and five counts of criminal neglect of a long-term care resident.
Penny Whitlock is the former nursing home supervisor of Woodstock Residence. Her testimony took place during a hearing over her motion to suppress testimony that was likely to accuse her of making incriminating statements about what she knew about the residents’ deaths. Whitlock's attorney says that Illinois State Police failed to honor her civil rights when they didn’t read her Miranda rights until the interview where she is accused of making incriminating statements was well under way.
The former nursing home supervisor is accused of discovering that Marty Himebaugh, a former nurse at the McHenry County facility, may have been giving terminally ill patients excessive morphine doses to kill them. Whitlock is also accused of then telling Himebaugh she could continue in her role as the “Angel of Death.”
Charges against Himebaugh include single counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substances and four counts of criminal neglect of a long-term care facility resident and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.
The two former nursing home workers have denied all allegations.
At least two Illinois nursing home neglect lawsuits alleging wrongful death have been filed over the alleged morphine overdoses.
Even if an Illinois nursing home resident is terminally ill, he or she is still owed a certain duty of care. Failure to provide that care is nursing home neglect.
Nursing home supervisor denies admission in death probe, The Daily Herald, September 17, 2009
Illinois “Angel of Death” Nursing Home Abuse Cases Leads to Two Wrongful Death Lawsuits, Malman Law, October 7, 2008
Judge to rule on comments in 'Angel of Death' case, Northwest Herald, September 17, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Illinois Citizens for Better Care
