Thousands of Illinois nursing home patients are being given dangerous, psychotropic drugs without cause, reports Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune says that since 2001, some 2,900 Illinois nursing home patients have been affected by 1,200 violations involving psychotropic drugs. The newspaper reports that there are residents in nursing homes throughout the state are being administered psychotropic drugs without their consent and without just case. Side effects can include lethargy, drowsiness, tremors, confusion, seizures, involuntary muscle movement, a greater risk of being involved in fall accidents, and death.
The Tribune examined over 40,000 federal and state inspection reports. Although some patients benefited from taking psychotropic drugs, many patients taking the medications were not suffering from psychosis. In Illinois, 2/3rds of 742 Illinois nursing homes have been cited at least once since 2001 for psychotropic drug violations.
Also during this time period, over 600 nursing home residents were given psychotropic drugs without their permission even after many of the patients said they didn’t want the medication. Consent has also been sought, and given, by dementia patients who are unable to understand what they are agreeing to take. Over 200 assisted living patients who took psychotropic meds fell within hours of taking the drugs. A number of them broke their hips or other bones. Several of them died.
One nursing home reportedly gave a female patient psychotic medication because she wouldn’t wear a bra. At another nursing home, an 87-year-old man who was easily annoyed was given antipsychotic meds. The Tribune says 14 patients’ deaths can be linked to misuse of psychotropic drugs. There have even been instances when a patient is wrongly diagnosed as having a mental illness to justify giving the resident the medication.
Nursing Home Abuse
Giving patient medication to keep them quite or restrain them is Illinois nursing home abuse. It can also cause serious injury, health issues, or death. Many nursing home patients are already taking more than enough meds for whatever is ailing them. Adding a powerful psychotic drug to the mix when it isn’t necessary is dangerous.
Compromised Care: Psychotropic drugs given to nursing home patients without cause, Chicago Tribune
Newspaper Investigates Dangerous Mix Of Nursing Homes And Psychotropic Drugs, Kaiser Health News, October 28, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Nursing Homes in Illinois
Nursing Home Compare, Medicare.gov
Contact our Chicago nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers today.
