Drug Overdoses Cited As Cause Of Suspicious Illinois Nursing Home Deaths
Woodstock Residence, now known as Crossroads Care Center of Woodstock, has been fined $300,000 by the Illinois Department of Public Health - a record fine - and the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services fined the facility another $57,350 after a state investigation revealed that the improper use of drugs, such as morphine sulfate, lead to five suspicious deaths at the facility in 2006. The report alleges that an employee at the facility mixed drug cocktails to make sure that troublesome residents "would not be bothering her during her shift". Appallingly, the report reveals that a supervisor allegedly told a nurse "I do not care if you play the angel of death, just don't let me know about it". A criminal indictment alleges that Penny Whitlock, former Director of Nursing at the Facility, made that comment to Marty Himebaugh, a licensed practical nurse. Concerning a restless patient, a nurse told a co-worker, "She won't make it through the day. I made sure of that." With respect to a 56 year old Down's Syndrome resident, a nurse told a co-worker, "Those people aren't meant to live that long. They are meant to die in their teens and I'm going to help him along."
Marty Himebaugh, a licensed practical nurse formerly employed at the facility, was charged with four counts of criminal neglect of a long-term care resident, one count of obtaining morphine by fraud, and one count of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Himebaugh was fired on October 31, 2006 at the suggestion of the Illinois State Police, who were investigating the suspicious deaths. Penny Whitlock, former Director of Nursing at the facility, was charged with five counts of criminal neglect of a long-term care resident and two counts of obstructing justice. Himebaugh was accused of administering excessive doses of morphine and Whitlock was accused of failing to report her actions. Both women have pled not guilty to the charges.
To date, two lawsuits have been filed due to the wrongful deaths. Vickie Lund, the daughter of Virginia Cole, filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that Cole was administered lethal doses of morphine that caused her September 2006 death. The second lawsuit was filed by Sharon Hunt, the mother of John Sherman, also alleges that Sherman was administered lethal doses of morphine, which caused his September 2006 death. Both Whitlock and Himebaugh, as well as the owners of the facility, are named as defendants in the lawsuits.
The facility is appealing the federal and state imposed fines.
