No Charges in Nursing Home Abuse Case—with Camera Evidence

Action Alert – Ehline Law Reports that an Ontario man is sick over the apparent abuse of an elderly parent.

The son was shocked over the treatment of an 85-year-old mother in a Peterborough, Ontario, nursing home. And he is even more devastated that the house and its monster employees will not face criminal charges.

Although this case happened in Canada, we wanted to demonstrate that even in so-called “un-greedy” socialist countries, physical, mental, and outright criminal abuse against patients is a widespread allegation.

Some would argue that the state will go out of its way to protect fellow government agencies and health care providers from lawsuits or criminal charges in a state-run society. Is that the case here? Although this case happened in Canada, it demonstrates that even in so-called “un-greedy” socialist countries, physical, mental, and outright criminal abuse against patients is a widespread allegation.

Son is “Sick” About the Treatment of His Elder Mother in a Care Home

According to Camille’s Parents, he is sick that the nursing home will not be facing charges, even though video camera footage of his mother is what he termed “manhandled.” At one point, the video shows a dirty cloth being “shoved” into his mother’s face.

Although there are more than 5000 hours of video, see a few snippets of a feces-covered cloth into a mother’s face. Note she is an Alzheimer’s patient.

The parent said he is confused that there are no charges on the nursing home staff at St. Joseph’s at Fleming nursing home, where his mother is a resident. The woman, identified by her son as Hellen MacDonald, a resident at the nursing home, also has dementia.

He said he began noticing scratches and bruises on his 85-year-old mother earlier this year. The parent said he complained to the management, but he continued to see injuries, so he placed a hidden camera in MacDonald’s room.

During four days, the Parent said the video showed his mother being mistreated by the nursing home staff. The abuse included:

• MacDonald was maltreated while getting her diaper changed.
• A staff employee shoved a dirty cloth in the 85 year-olds faces.
• A nursing home employee is blowing his nose on MacDonald’s bedsheets.
• Two employees were making out in his mother’s room while she was in bed.
• Another nursing home resident entered the room and rummaged through his mother’s things.

No Charges Against the Nursing Home—is it Special Protection for Elder Abuse?

The police said they were not pressing charges. What does the parent want to know why? He wants to see costs, why the elderly in long-term care are not protected, and why no charges are filed.

The Ministry of Health investigated the nursing home and found several violations of the Long-Term Care Act. They fired the four employees from the video. The parent feels the police have failed to provide any reasons for their decision, so they didn’t file any charges. The Crown Attorney invited him to a meeting on Friday.

If there are no current laws that the nursing home and staff cannot be charged with, the Parent argues for stricter legislation to help prevent similar types of abuse. MacDonald’s son stated that he has not decided whether to ask another police force to investigate the nursing home abuse independently.

But If a Human Did this to A Dog, Charges Would Be Filed

The son rightly points out in the above video is someone did this to an animal, they would already be in jail. Ehline Law Firm agrees. “Since before and even more after 2008, the U.S. has revered its view on humanity.  Fish, frogs, dogs, and people in the country illegally appear to have special rights not afforded to human citizens,” said Michael P. Ehline, who said, “It is like Bizarro World from Superman.”

Does anyone doubt what the son is saying is true?  Watch the video! There is evidence of assault under California criminal and civil law. Furthermore, un-consented-to touching resulted in bruising and harm; there is even video evidence. Also, there was mental and physical anguish inflicted upon the woman.

What more do the police need? Ehline Law’s Los Angeles, elderly abuse attorneys, encourage you to share this article with your local Canadian and U.S. lawmakers.

As an aside, in California, we have the Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse laws, and Ehline says:

“There is no doubt that these nurses would be in jail and that civil tort claims would already be working their way in the courts if this happened here!” The moral of the story is to get out there and support the son. Furthermore, this is shameful treatment of our seniors.  It could be your mom or dad next! In conclusion, take action.