Hospitals Can Be Held Responsible for Abusive Employees
We assume our healthcare providers have our best interests at heart. We should accept that even the best-intentioned medical professional can make a mistake. Still, we may find it hard to believe someone in healthcare would intentionally hurt anyone. The sad fact is those people are out there, and if you or your child are a victim, you may be entitled to compensation.
Satterley & Kelley, PLLC, helps people victimized by criminal and negligent healthcare professionals, including those who should have stopped patient abuse caused by another. To learn more, contact us at 855-385-9532.
Hospital Nurse Charged with Child Abuse
Employees at Henrico’s Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, first noticed mysterious injuries to newborns in the summer of 2023, reports the Washington Post. Last December, three infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) suffered “unexplainable fractures,” according to a hospital statement.
That cause may be registered nurse Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman, 26, who was arrested and charged with felony child abuse and malicious wounding in connection to an incident that happened in November. Police state they’re reopening investigations into injuries suffered by babies in 2023 and 2024.
The Post’s reporter spoke to the parents of a child whose leg was broken when being cared for at the NICU in 2023. He was one of two premature twins struggling to become healthy. The father’s mother is a former NICU nurse who, after hearing of the injury, reported it to Virginia’s Child Protective Services.
The hospital opened an investigation into the incident but closed it two weeks later. The local police also investigated and closed the investigation a year later. The parent was told the police believed it was the result of abuse, but they couldn’t come up with a suspect.
His son’s case was reopened in March of 2024. It’s believed at least seven infants were injured over time. One had 12 bone fractures. The parent stated he was shocked Strotman was arrested because he remembered her as kind.
In late December 2023,the hospital announced the following:
- Increased safety training for NICU caregivers
- Additional physical examinations of each NICU patient
- New training to help employees identify and report neglect or abuse
- Two new security systems, one allowing parents to watch their infants at all time
- A system ensuring babies were never alone with caregivers
Strotman’s next court date is expected on March 24.
Hospital’s Actions Too Little Too Late?
The Post states an investigation by the Virginia Department of Health revealed the hospital failed to report suspected child abuse on time after four babies were injured in 2023. Three more experienced fractures the following year.
The report states two inspectors went to the hospital in September 2023 after four premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit had fractures in one month. Investigators concluded that “the facility failed to protect and promote each patient’s rights” in the following ways:
- The hospital was required to report possible abuse within 24 hours of finding it. Four fractures were found between August 5 and September 5, 2023, but the state wasn’t notified until September 20, 2023. One employee stated the delay was caused by the hospital consulting with outside medical experts. They concluded the injuries may not have been caused by accident
- The hospital also failed to track the identities of the employees who collected lab samples from the infants during the time in question
The hospital responded with a corrective action plan that included the training and safety measures announced in 2023. After more babies were injured in 2024, the hospital’s NICU stopped admitting patients, and a nurse was charged with child abuse. The injuries continued despite these measures, and the hospital shut down the NICU unit.
The hospital installed cameras in NICU rooms in January 2024. One camera recorded Strotman putting pressure on a five-month’s legs, then pushing them so his feet were by his head, causing him distress. The child was later found with broken leg bones and fractured ribs.
The Virginia Department of Health placed the hospital’s license on a conditional renewal status. It couldn’t admit patients to the NICU, follow safety rules, and allow regular state inspections.
Speak To A Personal Injury Attorney Today
If a healthcare professional abuses you or a family member, whether at a nursing home, hospital, office, or any other place, the organization running the facility may be held accountable through a personal injury claim for not preventing it from happening. They may have negligently hired or failed to reasonably supervise the person, leading to the injuries.
Satterley & Kelley PLLC attorneys can help you take legal action. We will there every step of the way, protecting your interests and ensuring you get the compensation you deserve. Don’t to deal with a serious injury alone.
Take advantage of a free consultation where you can discuss your case, call our Louisville office at 855-385-9532. You may also complete our contact form if it’s more convenient.