Clinic cited in girl's death
7-year-old dies after being
restrained by staff at Rice Lake, Wis., center
June 24, 2006
BY EMILY GURNON
 Angellika
Arndt, a 7-year-old Wisconsin girl, passed out after being
restrained at a Rice Lake counseling center. Arndt died May
26 in Minneapolis, where she was hospitalized after the
incident. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled her
death a homicide.
A 7-year-old girl who died a day
after being physically restrained by employees at a Rice Lake, Wis.,
counseling clinic was placed in a so-called "control hold" because
she was "gargling milk," according to a report by state health
officials. [Note: According to reporter Emily
Gurnon, Angie was restrained for gargling milk two days prior to her
death; she was also restrained the day before her death.]
In an investigation into the girl's
death, the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services also
cited "multiple violations" of state law at the Northwest Counseling
and Guidance Clinics, including the law governing physical restraint
of clients.
Angellika Arndt, who had attended the
day treatment clinic five days a week for a month for behavioral
problems, had been restrained on nine separate occasions, according
to the report released late Thursday.
Each time, staff members placed her
in a control hold for one to two hours. The last time, on May 25,
she lost consciousness. She died a day later at Children's Hospital
& Clinics in Minneapolis.
The Hennepin County medical examiner
ruled her death a homicide caused by "complications of chest
compression asphyxiation" leading to "cardiopulmonary arrest while
restrained by another person."
Meanwhile, the Rice Lake Police
Department and Barron County District Attorney's office continue
their investigation of her death. The district attorney's office
said it did not expect to decide before July 15 whether to press
criminal charges.
In a statement issued Friday, clinic
board president Denison Tucker said the clinic has "expressed
concern (to the state) with what we find to be errors of fact,
incomplete context and misapplications of statute references."
Tucker declined to elaborate, except
to say that the clinic also was investigating the incident. Clinic
representatives planned to meet with state officials next week, he
said.
Tucker said in the May 25 incident
the girl was held on her stomach on the floor, with one staff member
gripping her ankles as another held down her shoulders. She calmed
down, was released and then passed out, he said.
Tucker said the control hold is used
only if a child is in danger of harming him or herself or another
person.
"The statement of deficiency laid out
some serious allegations," said Sandy Rowe, deputy chief legal
counsel for the health department. "We do expect all the facilities
to protect the health and safety of all the people who are entrusted
to their care."
According to the report, the clinic
"failed to demonstrate each use of physical hold (restraint) was due
to an emergency or behavior by (Angellika) that posed imminent
danger to self or others," as required by state law.
The clinic also failed to identify
the proper level of care for Angellika, the report said. She had
"behavioral and emotional issues" that exceeded the level at which
she had been classified.
Despite the evidence of frequent
tantrums, verbal and physical aggression toward staff and other
children, and the number of times intervention was necessary, the
staff continued to provide services "designed for other treatment
populations," the report said.
The clinic was ordered to respond to
the report within 30 days.
The two staff members who restrained
Angellika on the day she lost consciousness were immediately placed
on paid administrative leave, Tucker said.
Among the report's other findings:
• The clinic failed to provide
required services by a physician or registered nurse.
• The clinic failed to document the
side effects of Angellika's drugs.
• The clinic failed to provide direct
clinical review and assessment of the two employees who restrained
Angellika the day she passed out.
• There was no evidence that the
clinic collaborated with the girl's psychiatrist other than a
request for information about medications and a request for a
treatment plan signature.
The girl, whom friends and family
called "Angie," was born in Milwaukee. She became a ward of the
state and was placed in the Rusk County foster home of Dan and Donna
Pavlik in January 2005.
She was diagnosed with reactive
attachment disorder, mood disorder and attention deficit with
hyperactivity disorder, according to the state's report.
The Pavliks have declined to comment
on the case.
Kevin Harter contributed to this
report.
Emily Gurnon can be reached at
egurnon@pioneerpress.com
or 651-228-5522.
|
