Failure to Protect Resident from Physical Abuse by Another Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident was not protected from physical abuse by another resident following a verbal altercation. The incident involved two residents, both of whom had documented histories of anxiety and mood disorders, and were identified as having the potential for verbal aggression. Both residents were alert, oriented, and independently mobile in wheelchairs. Earlier in the day, a verbal altercation took place between the two residents on one of the facility's units. Later, in a common area near the front lobby, one resident approached the other and initiated a physical assault by punching the resident multiple times in the face. The assault was witnessed by other residents, who notified staff, prompting an in-house emergency response. The assaulted resident sustained significant injuries, including an open fracture of the nasal bone, hematoma of the nasal septum, periorbital hematoma, and an open fracture of the ethmoid bone, and was subsequently transferred to the hospital for treatment. Documentation and interviews confirmed that the physical altercation was preceded by a verbal dispute and that the facility's care plans had identified both residents as having aggressive tendencies. Despite these risk factors, the incident escalated to physical violence, resulting in harm to one resident. The facility's abuse policy states that residents have the right to be free from abuse, including abuse by other residents.