Resident-to-Resident Physical Abuse Resulting in Injury
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident was not protected from abuse by another resident. The incident began when one resident accused another of stealing $3.00 and attempted to search the accused resident's pockets. Despite the presence of an LPN who intervened and stood between the two residents, the aggressor reached around the staff member, grabbed the other resident by the hair, and pulled them to the ground. The aggressor then struck the resident in the side while the staff member attempted to shield the victim from further harm. Multiple staff and resident statements confirmed the sequence of events, including the use of racial slurs and physical aggression. The resident who was attacked sustained significant injuries, including a large hematoma on the left temple, a black eye, a bruise on the right hip, and rib pain. The resident reported severe headaches and pain, with a pain score of 7 out of 10. Medical evaluation in the emergency room confirmed an acute hematoma on the left temporal scalp. Observations following the incident documented visible bruising and discoloration on the resident's forehead, eye, and hip, as well as ongoing rib soreness. The resident who was attacked had a history of behavioral challenges, including diagnoses such as watershed brain damage, bipolar disorder, anxiety, impulse control disorder, major depressive disorder, ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, and borderline intellectual functioning. At the time of the incident, the resident was cognitively intact, had moderate symptoms of depression, and required staff supervision for activities of daily living. The altercation was witnessed by staff, and statements from both the aggressor and the victim corroborated the physical nature of the abuse and the events leading up to it.