Inclusion Daily Express -- Justice Department Details Dangerous Conditions, Rights Violations At Texas Institution

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Justice Department Details Dangerous Conditions, Rights Violations At Texas Institution
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 2, 2007

AUSTIN, TEXAS--Lubbock State School has violated the rights of its residents and put their health and safety at risk, according to a strongly worded Department of Justice report.

The report, which was sent to Texas Governor Rick Perry and Department of Aging and Disability Services officials on December 11, was not published on the DOJ website until December 21. It detailed what investigators called substantial departures "from generally accepted professional standards of care" at the state-run institution which houses about 350 people with developmental and other disabilities.

After their visit last year, investigators determined that inadequate staffing and training accounted for much of the trouble at the facility, which failed to provide adequate health care, including nursing services, psychiatric services, general medical care, pharmacy services, dental care, occupational and physical therapy, and physical and nutritional management; to protect residents from harm; and to provide adequate behavioral services, freedom from unnecessary or inappropriate restraint; along with supports needed to help residents receive services in "the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs".

The surveyors determined that the deaths of some residents could have been prevented with better medical care and monitoring. They found that drugs were being used to control the behaviors of many residents that had no clear diagnoses of mental illness. Various forms of restraint, including the dangerous facedown 'prone' restraint, were being used far too often -- even after they were found to be ineffective in changing behavior.

During the 12-month period ending April 2005, nearly one-half of the residents at LSS had been injured by another resident -- to the point of needing medical treatment. Twenty-one percent of the population had been bitten by fellow residents, the report noted.

The 44-page report included nine pages of recommendations.

The Department could file a lawsuit against the state if the conditions are not corrected by the end of January.

Related:
"DOJ report paints nightmarish picture of Lubbock State School" (Associated Press via Star-Telegram)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/07/red/0102c.htm
"Report: Investigation of the Lubbock State School" (U.S. Department of Justice)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/07/red/0102d.htm

Copyright © 2007 Inonit Publishing
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