Charges: St. mom refused care for son

[Guest guest]

http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/114181819.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:UHDaaDyiU\

iD3aPc:_Yyc:aUoD3aPc:_27EQU

Charges: St. mom refused care for son

Several times, authorities say, doctors told her disabled son

needed hospitalization for a severe foot burn. Eventually, his leg had to be

amputated.

By PAT PHEIFER, Star Tribune

Last update: January 18, 2011 - 9:47 PM

Time after time, doctors and nurses told Ruth that her disabled

son needed to be hospitalized to be properly treated for a severe burn on his

foot, court documents said.

Each time, , 61, of St. , refused, saying at least once that he

" doesn't like the hospital, " the documents said.

In late October, more than three months after the initial injury, doctors were

forced to amputate 's son's leg, according to a criminal complaint

charging with neglect of a vulnerable adult, a gross-misdemeanor.

" This is a case where the charges are unbelievably serious, " said St. City

Attorney Sara Grewing. " Unfortunately in Minnesota, neglect of a vulnerable

adult is just a gross misdemeanor. It's something we're working on for this

legislative session. "

The complaint, filed Friday and made public Tuesday, tells this story:

The victim, identified as E.J.N., is a 35-year-old autistic and developmentally

delayed man. He can't speak but can communicate a little by pointing to letters

and making some sounds. His parents were his conservators and had power to make

his medical decisions.

On July 2, he was walking barefoot outside with his mother when he stepped on

something and severely burned the bottom of his right foot. took him to

Family Health Services for the first time on July 29, where a doctor noted " deep

tissue loss " and recommended he be admitted to the burn unit at Regions

Hospital. refused, the complaint said.

took her son to medical clinics and hospital emergency rooms five more

times between Aug. 5 and Oct. 11. Each time, the wound got worse, and each time

she was told E.J.N. needed to be hospitalized. She repeatedly refused.

A home health care nurse visited the home nine times between Aug. 21 and

Sept. 16. The nurse, too, told her son should be in the hospital.

When took E.J.N. to the emergency room at St. 's Hospital on Oct. 26,

the wound had turned gangrenous, the complaint said.

" E.J.N. was malnourished, dehydrated and was moaning in apparent distress, " it

said. " Defendant admitted that 11 days earlier, E.J.N. had developed a high

fever, the wound had become swollen and black and had a foul odor. "

E.J.N. underwent emergency surgery to amputate his right leg up to the knee, the

complaint said. He was hospitalized for several weeks and then transferred to an

adult care facility. He has a new guardian, the complaint said.

was flustered when reached by phone Tuesday and said she didn't know

anything about the charges. She is to appear in court Feb. 17.

" I'm sorry. I'm so worried about my son. I can't talk to you right now, " she

said.

Grewing said state law calls for mandatory reporting of neglect of a vulnerable

adult. But St. police spokesman Andy Skoogman said police were not called

until Nov. 12.

Grewing said she was uncertain if there would be fallout for the nurses and

doctors who neglected to notify authorities. " We are not at that point yet, but

certainly the law allows for consequences in these situations, " she said.

" This is a perfect example of why we need tougher laws, " Skoogman said. " We need

more serious consequences for people who make these type of terrible and tragic

decisions. "