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Advocacy Groups Seek Ban on Prone Restraint; 'Unreasonable Risk of
Death for Children'
4/19/2006
11:21:00 AM
To: State Desk
Contact: Judy Banks, 717-236-8110 or
Jbanks@ppainc.org
HARRISBURG, Pa., April 19 /U.S. Newswire/ -- After being restrained
and held face down on the ground for ten minutes, Giovanni Aletriz
let out his last breath. The 16-year old resident of Summit Quest, a
facility that provides mental health services to children, is one of
hundreds of children that die each year in prone restraint-related
deaths.
In
a letter yesterday to Estelle Richman, secretary of the Department
of Public Welfare (DPW), 17 advocacy groups in the state have asked
the state to mandate an end to prone restraints at SummitQuest, and
in all community or residential mental health facilities that treat
children or adults.
Prone restraint, in which a person is held facedown on the stomach
or chest, is the deadliest form of restraint. Prison officials in
Texas consider the prone restraint so dangerous that they prohibit
guards from using the technique on even the most violent inmates. A
2002 study by Protection and Advocacy Inc. in California suggests,
"sudden death during prone restraint, particularly for those in a
state of agitated delirium ... is not an uncommon phenomenon."
Regulations in Pennsylvania prohibit the use of manual restraints
that apply pressure or weight on a child's or adolescent's
respiratory system - but currently DPW allows prone restraints that
also involve placing pressure on the respiratory system.
"Giovanni turned to the system for treatment, and instead died at
the hands of state regulated caregivers," said Judy Banks, deputy
director of Pennsylvania Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (PP&A).
"Banning prone restraints will force the provider community to
choose safer alternatives, which exist, to deal with a crisis
situation."
Residents at SummitQuest, who were surveyed by PP&A, consistently
described the restraints used by SummitQuest staff as prone
restraints. Residents also reported that staff often placed their
knees on the residents' back or neck. If residents struggled, staff
applied even more pressure and some residents reported that they had
difficulty breathing while under this restraint.
Joining PP&A in this effort to ban prone restraints are: Consumer
Satisfaction Team Inc. of Philadelphia; The Arc of Pennsylvania;
Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania; Mental Health Association
of Allegheny County; Mental Health Association of Central
Susquehanna Valley; Mental Health Association of Southeastern
Pennsylvania; Mental Health Association of Franklin and Fulton
Counties; Mental Health Association of York County; The Advocacy
Alliance; Milestones Community Healthcare, Inc.; NAMI Pennsylvania;
PA Council on Independent Living; Parents Involved Network;
Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers Association; Speaking for
Ourselves, Inc.; United Cerebral Palsy of Pennsylvania; and Vision
for Equality
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About PP&A
Pennsylvania Protection & Advocacy, Inc. (PPA) is a statewide,
non-profit corporation designated as the federally-mandated
organization to advance and protect the civil rights of all persons
with disabilities. PPA works with people with disabilities and their
families to ensure their right to live in their communities with the
services they need, to live free of discrimination, abuse and
neglect, and to have control and self- determination over their
services.
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2006 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
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