VOICELESS & VULNERABLE10/28/2001 |
Bobbie Sue Thomas, 17. Northwood Children's Home-West, Duluth.
Thomas was developmentally disabled with severe behavioral problems. She died in August 1996 while being physically restrained - held face down by as many as four workers at a time - for nearly 3 1/2 hours. She then suffered cardiac arrest, vomited, aspirated and had pulmonary edema.
After her death, Human Services found that the home did not follow state regulations on restraint that could have minimized her risk of injury. The provider didn't give the staff the option of placing Thomas in seclusion or giving her medication. Employees also did not call for help or temporarily release her to see whether she would calm down. Human Services decided there was no maltreatment despite finding that the restraint caused the death.




