Failure to Report Alleged Abuse to Authorities
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an allegation of abuse involving a resident who stated that his roommate pulled his right arm and touched his right leg multiple times. The resident, who expressed fear and discomfort during the incident, reported the event to his assigned CNA, who then informed the RN. The RN subsequently reported the incident to the abuse coordinator, and a meeting was held where the complaint was treated as a grievance rather than an abuse allegation. The administrator decided not to investigate the complaint as possible abuse and did not report it to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), as he did not believe it constituted abuse. The resident accused of the touching had a history of Pick's disease and schizophrenia, with documented moderate cognitive impairment. Facility records, including the face sheet and MDS, confirmed these diagnoses. The facility's policy required timely reporting of suspected or identified abuse to appropriate agencies, but this protocol was not followed in this case. As a result, the incident was not reported to CDPH, preventing timely investigation and potentially leading to loss of information or recollection of the event.