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CHICAGO, IL – The Illinois Department of Human Services’ (IDHS) watchdog office recently revealed shocking instances of abuse, cruelty and poor care of patients who suffer from mental illnesses and developmental disabilities at a state-run facility in Southern Illinois.

Eight reports obtained under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act showed evidence of an ongoing crisis at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center located at 1000 N. Main St., Anna, IL. The facility is under scrutiny with Governor J.B. Pritzker discussing the future of the property just last month.

“If the problems can’t be fully addressed, then we ought to close it down because the state, obviously in that area, is incapable of managing the facility properly,” Pritzker stated.

In November, an IDHS inspector general wrote that two employees broke a patient’s arm in October 17 and bragged to fellow staff how they got away with abusing patients by blaming injuries on patient falls. They also mentioned how they intimated and bullied other employees in an effort for them not to report in fear of retaliation.

In another report, the inspector pointed to years of concern regarding the care to patients who have pica, a mental health condition where a person compulsively swallows non-food items like coins, zippers or grass.

Nurses told investigators it was common practice to force patients with pica to dig through their own feces with gloved hands or a spatula to determine what objects they swallowed had passed.

A clinical consultation was conducted and the facility was cited for neglect, though individual nurses names were not cited.

In another report, the inspector cited two nurses for neglected a terminally ill patient just days before he died in July 2021. One nurse neglected to properly manage his pain, while the other failed to notify a physician that the resident had lost over 20 pounds in just one week. The failure to report caused him to experience emotional distress and pain which further deteriorated his health. The nurses deviated from the standard of care; furthermore, the report stated had proper care been provided, he would have “a higher quality of life and more time with his family.”

Choate, which houses up to 270 residents with disabilities, had employees obstructing investigations and lying to avoid consequences in abuse and neglect lawsuit cases.

Other findings in the reports include mental health technicians who neglected patients and comprised their safety by sleeping on the job or failing to provide proper supervision. In May 2019, two patients who were left unsupervised both accused the other of rape. In another instance, a resident was discovered wandering naked outside at 4 a.m. in mid-December when temperatures were below 30. In another case, a staff member failed to provide proper supervision resulting in one patient assaulting another.

Take action! Contact a Chicago elder abuse lawyer for a free consultation!

As aggressive Chicago nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers, the Dinizulu Law Group tirelessly pursues justice for you and/or your loved one. If your loved one fell victim of abuse or a nursing home has caused the death of a loved one, our team will fight relentlessly for you.

If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, please call (312) 384-1920 or fill out an online form now to request a free consultation. The Dinizulu Law Group, a Chicago nursing home abuse law firm, will work tenaciously to bring the wrongdoers to justice and obtain the maximum case value and compensation you deserve. Contact us today!

CHICAGO, IL – If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, you know not all injuries are made clear immediately. There are many cases where it can take weeks or months for symptoms to manifest. In other cases, an individual may present vague symptoms and wonder if it’s necessary to seek treatment. In a situation like this, it’s always wise to consult with a doctor and consider that you may have delayed injuries from your accident.

How long should I wait for post-accident symptoms?

For some people, injuries appear immediately after a car crash and may linger for weeks. For others, injuries appear overtime and become more noticeable. Either way, you’ll want to monitor yourself for injuries after the accident for the first six to eight weeks.

Look out for persistent or delayed injury symptoms including:

• Memory problems
• Pain in any part of your body
• Stiff neck or shoulders
• Tingling, numbness or weakness in your arms or legs
• Recurring or constant headache
• Memory problems or memory loss
• Problems with vision and hearing
• Fatigue, nausea or sleepiness

Car crash injuries that may have persistent or delayed symptoms include:

• Post-concussion syndrome
• Spinal cord injury
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spine/backbone injury
• Soft-tissue injury, such as whiplash
• Internal organ damage
• Bone or joint injuries

Without timely treatment, your injuries could get worse. If you think you need to seek medical treatment, go immediately. It’s better to have this documented to help build your personal injury case.

How long do you have until you see a doctor after a car accident?

Some people wait hoping their pain will subside and eventually go away. On the other hand, it’s valuable if you wish to claim compensation after your car accident for your injuries to see a doctor immediately, even if your symptoms are minor. If possible, you should receive medical treatment within 72 hours of your accident. This is the period of time insurance companies deem it “reasonable” for you to visit the doctor.

If you wait too long, the insurance adjuster could downplay your claim asserting that if your injury was as serious as you say it was, you would have sought medical treatment immediately. Likewise, if you skip a treatment, the adjuster could indicate that your injury isn’t as severe as you claim.

If you experience pain after 72 hours, you should still seek medical attention. It will be challenging to pursue a compensation claim, but a competent personal injury lawyer will prove the severity of your injury and assert the compensation you deserve.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Cook County, Illinois

If you were involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault and were injured due to another’s negligence, you may have the right to seek compensation through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. You don’t have to handle the legal process alone – the team of trusted auto accident attorneys at the Dinizulu Law Group are here to help you!

Our attorneys advocate for car accident victims and their families who’ve suffered injuries due to another’s negligence. If you believe you have a case or would like to speak to a paralegal, call our office today at (312) 384-1920. We offer free consultations with no obligation. Contact us today!

CHICAGO, IL – Making the decision to place your loved one in a nursing home is difficult. However, there are things you can do that will make the transition a little easier. Taking care of these seven things before placing your loved one in a nursing home will save you time, money and headaches.

1. Choose the right facility.
   While this step may be overwhelming, it’s important to sit down and discuss what your parent needs out of a long-term facility. Furthermore, extensive research on what facilities offer the type of care you’re looking for will be required.
2. See if your loved one qualifies for financial benefits.
   Check to see if your loved one qualified for benefits to help pay for their care. The average cost of a nursing home in Illinois is roughly $7,000/per month. It’s important to consult an elder law attorney before giving up on the prospect of financial benefits.
3. Know exactly what you’re signing before you sign it.
   Before moving your loved one in to their nursing home, you’ll be handed a large administrative packet of information to sign. Some nursing homes have arbitration agreements written in this documents. By signing this document, you waive your right to hold the nursing home accountable in court, for any and all potential wrongdoings. Be aware of what you’re signing before you sign it.
4. Don’t bring any valuable into the facility.
   If your loved one has a sentimental item they’d like to bring to their nursing home, you may want to rethink this. Being in a communal living space, it can be easy for things to disappear or someone to steal your personal belongings.
5. Know who can make important decisions.
   Before going into a long-term living facility, you should discuss with your loved one who they would like designated as their legal “helper” for when the time comes that they can’t make a decision for themselves. Establishing a power of attorney is an important legal document that authorizes someone to represent or act on your behalf. You will need two separate power of attorney documents: one of medical decisions and one for financial decisions.

   Along with having a power of attorney, it’s important to have a Last Will & Testament in place, in addition to any other helpful estate planning documents. This may include end-of-life documents or trusts.

CHICAGO, IL – An Illinois prosecutor filed first-degree murder charges against two EMTs providers over the death of a patient they were called to assist on Dec. 18, 2022. The Lifestar employees are accused of Earl L. Moore Jr., 35, dying in their care of asphyxia.

The patient, who may have been experiencing hallucinations, was placed face down on a stretch and restrained across his upper torso. The coroner’s report said the cause of death was compression and positional asphyxia.

Both defendants are being placed in Sangamon County Jail on a $1 million bond.

This case holds an important lesson for EMS professionals across the country.

EMS Murder Charge

Law enforcement responded to a man in apparent medical distress at approximately 2:02 a.m. Recent body camera footage shows police were met at the door by an adult female who told officers Moore was “hallucinating and having alcohol withdrawals.”

The woman, appearing exasperated, when telling police, “every time I take him to the hospital, they release him, that’s all they do.” Police noted he was in obvious distress and called for an ambulance.

Twelve minutes later, EMT Peggy Finely was seen entering the bedroom with no medical equipment. Finley demanded Moore “sit up” and again more sternly.

“You’re going to have to walk, because we ain’t carrying you. Because I am seriously not in the mood for this dumb shit,” Finley’s heard saying. Finley appeared to make no attempt to physically assess Moore. As he continued to moan in pain, she yelled at him to “get up!”

Once Moore reached the outside of the house, he knelt on the ground with his arms, upper torso and head resting on the stretcher.

“Get up on there Earl,” a voice is heard saying.

EMT Peter Cadigan appeared to be waiting in the front yard with a cot. Cadigan, along with another officer, grasped the patient by his arms and dragged him onto the stretcher, placing him face-down on the cot. Cadigan slightly lifted Moore’s upper torso and – somewhat forcefully – slammed him into position on the stretcher. Cadigan then appears to tighten the cot straps around the patient. Moore became quiet at this point.

Eight minutes after EMT arrival, Moore was loaded into an ambulance and transported to HSHS St. John’s Hospital, nearly 1 mile from the residence. While it’s unclear if the patient went into cardiac arrest during the ambulance transport, the autopsy report indicates “resuscitation intervention upon emergency department assessment.”

After attempting to resuscitate Moore, he was pronounced dead at 3:14 a.m., a little more than an hour after police initially arrived at his residence.

Wrongful death from medical malpractice or negligence

Death caused by the negligence of another person is called “wrongful death.” In most states, surviving family members have the right to financial compensation for the wrongful death of a relative. At the Dinizulu Law Group, we strive to obtain the highest possible compensation for those who have lost a loved one.

Call the skilled wrongful death attorneys of the Dinizulu Law Group if a friend or family member has become a victim of wrongful death. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid for our services if we recover money for you. Call our office now to learn more at (312) 384-1920.