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July 2, 2006

Initial report in girl's death are disturbing

The initial investigation into the death of a 7-year-old girl raises serious questions about the "care" provided at the Northwest Counseling and Guidance Clinic in Rice Lake.

Ask yourself this: If a child gargled milk and her parents responded by holding her down for 90 minutes, would that be considered normal discipline? Or if the child was held down again the next day for two hours and then complained of eye pain before passing out and later dying, would the parent face serious legal consequences?

This allegedly is what clinic staff put Angellika Arndt through.

The state Department of Health and Family Services released an investigative report recently into the death of Arndt, and it doesn't paint a complimentary picture of the care she received at the clinic leading up to her death on May 26. Barron County District Attorney Angela Holmstrom must decide whether to file criminal charges in Arndt's death.

Denison Tucker, president of the clinic's board of directors, said there are "errors of fact, incomplete context and misapplications of statute references" in the state's report.

The clinic should have every opportunity to explain its actions, but this matter is extremely serious not only because a 7-year-old girl died but because others who send children to the day treatment center need assurances their children won't be endangered.

The state's report found Arndt was put in a restraint hold eight other times by center staff for her behavior. The hold used on Arndt involved staff holding her arms and legs while the girl lay on her stomach on the floor, Tucker said previously. The Hennepin County (Minn.) medical examiner ruled Arndt died from complications of chest compression asphyxia as a result of the restraint.

The state investigation also found the center failed to show the holds were used only in emergencies, that Arndt complained of pain during the holds, and that in late April Arndt responded to medication to control tantrums, but it was not given to her after April 27.

No one wanted Angellika Arndt to die, but she did, and investigators must ensure accountability so nothing like this happens again.

— Don Huebscher, editor
 

 

 

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