Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Quincy IL | Prescription drug theft in Illinois nursing homes

When nursing home abuse or neglect occurs, you need a nursing home abuse lawyer in Quincy IL to assist you with your personal injury claim. Contact Carlson Bier today at 312-622-2900. Nursing home abuse and neglect is a serious problem in Illinois. Nursing home staff can steal prescription drugs from residents, and they may also administer medications without consent or in an incorrect dosage. This is abuse and you and your loved one have the right to pursue justice.

Nursing Home Staff Stealing Prescription Drugs

You may be wondering how staff members are able to steal so many prescription drugs. The answer is simple: they take advantage of the fact that most residents in nursing homes have Alzheimer’s and dementia. They also take advantage of the fact that many residents are on multiple medications, which makes them easier to manipulate.

Here are some examples of why nursing home staff members steal from their elderly patients:

Staff members sell drugs for cash or other items
Staff members sell drugs like OxyContin and methadone for cash
Nurses give out over the counter medications as if it were an actual prescription drug and steal the prescriptions to sell

Patients who have prescribed medications need those to function and oftentimes to survive. When those drugs are not administered, your family member may suffer. This is a form of abuse and you may have a personal injury claim. At Carlson Bier, our nursing home lawyer in Quincy IL is here to provide you with a consultation and to let you know your options. You and your family deserve justice.

Intravenous (IV) Drug Theft in Illinois Nursing Homes

IV drug theft is a serious problem in Illinois nursing homes. Theft of lifesaving drugs, such as antibiotics and other medications, can be life threatening for residents of nursing homes.

Nursing home residents need to know what to do if they suspect that their IV medication has been stolen. According to the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act, it is a crime for a person employed by or under contract with a nursing home facility to “knowingly use or attempt to use any resident’s personal funds or property for personal use unless authorized by law” (225 ILCS 48/1). This also includes theft of medication from residents’ private lockers in the facility.

If you suspect that medication theft is occurring, there are steps you can take. First, talk to the nursing home administrator and ask questions such as:

How many residents are in the building?
How many staff members work on each shift (daytime, evening and night)?
What types of medications do they dispense?

Next contact the local police department and report your concerns, but be sure to allow them time to investigate your allegations before contacting other agencies. The next step would be contacting relevant state agencies such as, The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) which oversees all healthcare facilities in Illinois including nursing homes. You should also contact your insurance company about reimbursement for any stolen prescriptions if applicable.

Most importantly, you should contact a quality personal injury lawyer. You deserve justice and to never have this happen again. Our nursing home abuse lawyer in Quincy IL has vast experience with these types of personal injury cases. Contact us today for a consultation.

If you suspect prescriptions are being stolen, contact our nursing home abuse lawyer in Quincy IL today

Nursing home theft and abuse can take many forms. Nursing home staff may be stealing prescription drugs from the facility, or they may be giving patients too much or too little medication. Medication theft is a serious issue and can have devastating consequences for the victims. If you suspect that medication theft is happening at the nursing home where your loved one is staying, act now. If you suspect that a nursing home is engaging in any of these activities, you can report it and you can hire a nursing home abuse lawyer in Quincy IL to make sure it doesn’t happen again.