North Carolina Attorney Investigates Use of Drugs in Nursing Homes
Following the death of a nursing home resident who had been given a lethal dose of morphine, a North Carolina attorney is investigating the use of drugs in nursing homes. Attorney Carma Henson is representing three of the nine residents at Britthaven nursing home who tested positive for morphine following the death of Rachel Holliday on Feb. 16.
While nursing home officials say nursing aid Angela Almore acted alone in administering non-prescribed doses of moprhine to patients to make them more manageable, Henson says she is looking at procedures at the nursing home which allowed Almore to commit this crime.
“A nurse should not be able to just get access to morphine that is not prescribed for patients and give them to anyone they want to. This can't be just a rogue nurse gone bad,” Henson said. The state licensing board is also investigating the nursing home for possible violations.
Henson was interviewed by TV station WRAL about the investigation:
Henson's investigation illustrates the importance of having a good attorney on your side in nursing home abuse cases. While Almore is rightfully being tried for murder, the nursing home should not be allowed to simply write her off as a bad apple and continue business as usual. They should be forced to ensure that something similar does not happen to other residents in the future.
If you believe a loved one has been abused in a nursing home or assisted living facility, visit the Nursing Home Advocates website.
