Tennessee Bureau of Investigations Eyes Johnson City Nursing Home
Allegations of the abuse of a dementia patient have prompted the Tennessee Department of Health to curtail all admissions to the Johnson City nursing facility, Appalachian Christian Village. According to the Johnson City Press, there will be no further admissions to the facility until the facts are all in.
Three certified nursing assistants allegedly decided to have a “little fun” while on duty. They are accused of using a water spray bottle to startle a sleeping dementia patient, simply to see how she reacted. According to federal investigators, the trio, who worked the night shift, concocted the abuse in December 2011, thinking that the patient’s reactions “would be comical”.
All three CNAs were fired, along with two other nursing assistants who allegedly provided false information. In addition, the nursing facility’s attorney, Eric Ebbert, says that his client investigated and reported the incident five days after it allegedly occurred.
The federal report states that the abuse was ongoing, beginning with using a syringe filled with tap water to spray the light bulb over the patient’s bed, which dripped on her as she slept. In other incidents, the CNAs are said to have used ice water and toilet water to spray onto the patient’s face and hands, causing her to awaken and “curse and yell at her spouse to stop urinating on her.”
Kristen Helm, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokesperson, said that, once the investigation is complete, the case would be sent to the District Attorney’s office.
The Memphis nursing home abuse lawyers at Bailey & Greer detest any type of abuse, and we wish the victim and her family a swift resolution to the case.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
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