Failure to Obtain Informed Consent for Psychotropic Medication Initiation
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to obtain and document informed consent, including discussion of risks and benefits, prior to initiating the psychotropic medication divalproex sodium for three residents reviewed for unnecessary medications. For each of these residents, divalproex sodium was ordered and administered as a psychotropic/anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing medication without evidence in the medical record that the resident or their representative had been informed in advance of the risks versus benefits or had consented to the treatment. The Medication Administration Records confirmed that the medication was given as ordered over extended periods. One resident was admitted with diagnoses including unspecified dementia, psychotic mood disturbance, anxiety, and depression, and was identified on the MDS as severely cognitively impaired and receiving antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications. A psychiatric NP note documented increased aggressive behavior, hoarding, and visual hallucinations, with a recommendation to start divalproex sodium. Physician orders show a series of dose escalations from 125 mg twice daily to 500 mg twice daily over time for dementia and psychotic mood disorder, yet the medical record contained no documentation that the resident’s representative was informed of the risks and benefits or provided consent before initiation. The unit manager and DON both acknowledged that consent for this psychotropic medication had been overlooked. A second resident, admitted with unspecified dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder, and delusional disorder, was also severely cognitively impaired per MDS and was receiving antidepressant, anticonvulsant, and antipsychotic medications. A psychiatric NP note described increased irritability, anger, and agitation, and recommended starting divalproex sodium 125 mg daily, which was subsequently titrated up to 500 mg twice daily according to physician orders. The MAR showed the medication was administered as ordered, but there was no documentation that the resident’s representative had been informed in advance of the risks versus benefits or had consented. The unit manager and DON stated that obtaining consent for this psychotropic medication was their responsibility and that it had been overlooked. A third resident, admitted with unspecified dementia, major depressive disorder, hallucinations, and anxiety disorder, had a psychiatric NP note describing increased evening agitation, cursing, and yelling at staff and peers, with a plan to start divalproex sodium 250 mg twice daily for disturbed mood and anxiety. Physician orders documented dose increases up to 500 mg twice daily for dementia and anxiety, and the MAR confirmed ongoing administration. The resident was identified as severely cognitively impaired on the MDS and was receiving antidepressant, anticonvulsant, and antipsychotic medications. The medical record lacked any documentation that the resident’s representative was informed in advance of the risks versus benefits of divalproex sodium or had provided consent. In interviews, the unit manager and DON again stated that consents for this psychotropic medication were not obtained and were overlooked, while the administrator stated he expected informed consents, including discussion of risks and benefits, to be obtained prior to starting or changing psychotropic medications.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Failure to obtain informed consent for ordered psychotropic and PRN meds. A resident with COPD, anxiety, and PTSD had orders for Seroquel ER, Seroquel, and lorazepam, but the record had no documentation that the resident or representative was informed of the risks and benefits or signed consent for either medication. The CRN and CNO confirmed the missing consents.
Failure to document informed consent for psychotropic meds: a resident with mildly impaired cognition, dementia, TBI, anxiety, and depression was receiving escitalopram and quetiapine, but the ADON could not find documentation that consent was obtained or that the risks, benefits, and alternative tx options were explained to the resident or resident representative. The facility policy required physician documentation of consent before starting a new psychotropic medication.
A resident with bipolar disorder and autistic disorder was prescribed risperiDONE 2 mg BID and received it for several days, but the record did not contain a signed consent for the antipsychotic. Staff interviews confirmed that antipsychotic medications required RP signature consent, and the DON stated there was verbal consent, though no documentation of it was found in the EMR.
A facility failed to obtain and document complete informed consent before giving psychotropic medications to four residents. Records showed incomplete consent forms for antipsychotic, antidepressant, anxiolytic, and dementia-related medications, with missing physician signatures, representative signatures or dates, and in some cases missing ordered dose details or no consent form in the chart for the medication actually given. The DON stated the forms were not filled out entirely even though the facility policy required the prescriber to explain the medication’s risks, benefits, frequency, duration, and alternatives before consent was documented.
A resident with capacity, osteoarthritis, muscle wasting, and a history of refusing care was transferred from bed to the shower room with a Hoyer lift even though he repeatedly said no, yelled for staff to stop, and complained of back pain and discomfort. CNAs and an LVN acknowledged the resident refused the shower and transfer, but staff continued anyway. The record did not show the resident agreed to the shower or was offered a choice to refuse. Afterward, the resident had severe low back pain, was sent to the hospital, and was found to have acute compression fractures.
Failure to inform a resident's representative about psychotropic medication orders. A resident with dementia with psychotic disturbances became increasingly agitated and combative, leading to Haldol being ordered and administered, then ordered PRN. The record did not show that the RN notified the representative or provided education about the new Haldol orders, despite facility policy requiring discussion of alternatives, rationale, risks and benefits, and the right to accept or decline treatment.
Failure to Obtain Informed Consent for Psychotropic and PRN Medication
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents were informed in advance of the care and treatment to be furnished, including the risks and benefits of treatment, for 1 of 5 residents reviewed for informed consent. Resident #23 was admitted with multiple diagnoses including COPD, anxiety, and PTSD, and the record showed physician orders for Seroquel ER 200 mg at bedtime for schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder, Seroquel 100 mg daily for bipolar disorder, and lorazepam 0.5 mL by mouth every 4 hours as needed for palliative care related to COPD. A review of the record found no documentation that Resident #23 or the resident's representative were informed of the risks and benefits or provided consent for the initiation of Seroquel and lorazepam. On 7/10/26 at 10:42 AM, the CRN and CNO confirmed that Resident #23 did not have signed consents for Seroquel or lorazepam.
Failure to Document Informed Consent for Psychotropic Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure informed consent was obtained and documented for a resident receiving psychotropic medications, including an explanation of the risks and benefits and alternative treatment options. The resident had a mildly impaired cognition, was dependent on staff for ADLs, and had diagnoses of dementia, traumatic brain injury, anxiety, and depression. The resident’s MDS also indicated feeling down, depressed, or hopeless several days during the look-back period. The MAR showed the resident was receiving escitalopram 5 mg daily for generalized anxiety and quetiapine 100 mg at bedtime for unspecified dementia with agitation. During interview and record review, the ADON was unable to locate documentation in the resident’s medical record showing that consent had been obtained or that risks, benefits, or alternative treatment options had been discussed with the resident or resident representative. The facility’s Antipsychotic Medication Use policy stated that prior to starting a new psychotropic medication, the physician was to document resident or resident representative consent in the progress notes, and that monitoring for side effects and use of standardized tools was required after initiation or dose changes.
Antipsychotic Given Without Signed Consent
Penalty
Summary
Resident #3, a [AGE]-year-old male admitted on 06/25/2026 with diagnoses including bipolar disorder and autistic disorder, was prescribed risperiDONE 2 mg by mouth twice daily for bipolar disorder starting 06/26/2026. The record showed the medication was administered from 06/26/2026 through 07/02/2026, but the medical record did not contain a signed consent for the antipsychotic risperidone. The Entry MDS was not completed, and the care plan was also not completed. During interviews, LVN C stated antipsychotics required RP signature consent and could not be administered before consent was given. LVN D stated she would not give an antipsychotic before the consent was signed and said she had never given one without signed consent. The DON stated antipsychotics needed signature consent and acknowledged there was no RP signature on Resident #3’s consent, stating she had verbal consent from the RP, but there was no documentation in the electronic medical record that verbal consent had been given.
Incomplete informed consent for psychotropic medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure informed consent for psychotropic medications was obtained and properly documented before administration for four sampled residents. Across the records reviewed, psychotropic medication consent forms were repeatedly incomplete, with missing physician signatures, missing representative signatures or dates, missing staff signatures, and in some cases missing medication frequency, dose details, or the correct ordered medication information. The Director of Nursing stated the forms were not filled out entirely but should have been, and that the physician was expected to explain the medication risks and benefits and obtain consent before administration. Resident 1 had diagnoses including dementia, diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerotic heart disease, and the H&P stated the resident did not have the capacity to understand and make decisions. The resident received quetiapine fumarate 12.5 mg daily and PRN and 25 mg at bedtime, and later Trileptal 300 mg twice daily. The psychotherapeutic drug informed consent forms for these medications included staff signatures but did not include physician signatures or dates, and did not include the representative’s name, signature, or date. The DON stated the physician did not sign the form and without the physician’s signature the medications were not allowed to be given, but the forms were not completed as required. Resident 2 had diagnoses including dementia, mood affective disorder, and depression, and the H&P stated the resident did not have capacity to understand and make decisions. The resident received risperidone 0.25 mg twice daily, donepezil 10 mg at bedtime, and memantine 10 mg twice daily. The consent forms for risperidone, donepezil, and memantine were incomplete, with missing physician signatures and dates, and the chart did not contain consent forms for the ordered doses of donepezil 10 mg and memantine 10 mg. Resident 3 had diagnoses including depression, anxiety disorder, and insomnia, and the H&P stated the resident had capacity to understand and make decisions. The resident received trazodone 150 mg at bedtime and mirtazapine, but the consent forms lacked physician signatures, dates, and representative signatures or dates, and the chart did not include a consent form for the ordered mirtazapine 7.5 mg dose. Resident 4 had diagnoses including anxiety, unspecified psychosis, and alcohol abuse, and the H&P stated the resident had capacity to understand and make decisions. The resident received quetiapine, Ativan, and mirtazapine, but the consent forms were incomplete or undated, lacked required signatures, and the chart did not include a consent form for the ordered Ativan and later mirtazapine via g-tube. The facility’s P&P required residents and/or representatives to be fully informed of benefits, risks, frequency, duration, and alternatives before psychotropic medications were initiated, and required the prescriber to sign the informed consent form after explaining the information.
Resident’s refusal of shower care was ignored
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect and promote a resident’s right to self-determination and freedom from interference when staff transferred the resident from bed to the shower room using a Hoyer lift despite repeated verbal objections. The resident had diagnoses including muscle wasting, osteoarthritis of both knees, and a history of psychological trauma, and the record indicated he had the capacity to understand and make decisions. His care plans documented multiple refusals of care, including refusal to get out of bed, refusal of restorative nursing activities, refusal to be cleaned, and refusal of weight monitoring, with interventions directing staff to listen to the resident, be slow and gentle, respect his decisions, and address pain before care. On the day of the event, staff moved the resident from his bed to the shower room during a shift change even though he repeatedly said no, yelled for staff to stop, and stated he did not want to be moved because of back pain and discomfort. CNA 1, CNA 2, and LVN 1 all acknowledged in interviews that the resident refused the transfer and shower, and they described continuing the shower anyway. The resident’s family member stated that he screamed and pleaded not to be moved, and the roommate stated he heard the resident shouting at staff to stop moving him and to put him back in bed. The record did not include documented evidence that the resident agreed to be showered or was given an option to refuse the shower and transfer. After the shower event, the resident reported severe low back pain, and later requested transfer to the hospital because the pain medication was not effective. The medical record showed hydrocodone-acetaminophen was given for severe pain, a change-in-condition evaluation documented uncontrolled lower back pain, and the resident was transferred to the hospital with an order for severe low back pain. Hospital records later showed acute L1, L3, and L4 compression fractures and discharge diagnoses of acute lower back fractures, with kyphoplasty performed. Interviews with nursing staff confirmed that if a resident complains of pain or discomfort during care, the procedure should stop, and the DON stated staff should step away and re-approach when a resident refuses care. The facility’s Resident Rights and Refusal of Treatment policies stated residents have freedom of choice, may refuse treatment, and are not to be forced to accept care.
Failure to Inform Representative About Psychotropic Medication Orders
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to fully inform a resident and the resident's representative of the risks, benefits, and alternate treatment options for psychotropic medication use. Resident #4 had diagnoses including dementia with psychotic disturbances and was admitted to the facility before being discharged on 2/16/26. His physician's orders included Memantine 5 mg, Mirtazapine 7.5 mg, and Rivastigmine 9.5 mg patch, and on 2/12/26 he became combative and aggressive, prompting a one-time order for Haldol 5 mg that was administered at about 8:00 PM. A new order for Haldol 5 mg every 12 hours as needed for agitation and combativeness was written on 2/12/26 and discontinued on 2/14/26. A progress note by Staff A, RN stated the resident had become increasingly aggressive, agitated, and combative and that new orders were obtained, but the documentation did not show that the representative was made aware of the new medication orders. The DON reviewed the record and confirmed there was no evidence that Staff A communicated with the resident's representative about the Haldol orders or provided education regarding the use of and new orders for Haldol. The facility policy required review with the resident or representative of non-pharmacological alternatives, indications and rationale, potential risks and benefits, and the right to accept or decline treatment before initiating or changing a psychotropic medication.
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