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WWCO

Report: Clinic 'Failed' Girl Who Died

June 23, 2006

Heather Brown
Reporting

(WCCO) An investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services found the Rice Lake Day Treatment Center failed a little girl who died after being restrained at the clinic.

A report said in the month Angellika Arndt, 7, was a patient at the clinic she had been restrained nine different times, sometimes for as long as an hour and a half.

Minutes after a hold on May 25, she stopped breathing. She died the next day at a Minneapolis hospital.


Stephanie Marquis of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services said, "We found the staff in the facility failed to protect and health and safety of this young girl."

A month-long investigation revealed 13 violations at the clinic. Some were paperwork related, such as failing to do proper background checks, but others were more serious.

The investigation found insufficient staff supervision, unavailable medical services, the wrong kind of treatment program and the unnecessary use of restraints in Arndt's case.

"We were very surprised," said Denison Tucker, president of the clinic.

He disputes many of the charges, including one that found the facility couldn't show the hold was necessary.

He said the staff restrained Arndt because they feared she would harm herself.

"She physically would begin to act out, you know, like kick, bite, head-banging," he said.

Tucker believes the hold wasn't the only factor in Arndt's death. He said her case was more complicated because of her medications, which was something out of his control.

The state said the clinic should have looked for other ways to treat Arndt sooner.

Tucker agreed, saying, "In hindsight, we should have definitely have read the cues."

The clinic has 30 days to fix the problems identified by the state. Tucker said they've already proposed a few changes, including a camera in the hold room, a team to review every time a child is restrained and an independent consultant to critique their system.

The state has already prohibited the facility from performing the hold, except in serious emergencies where police have to be called.

 
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