In the bad old days, staff at state institutions for people with cognitive disabilities would regularly restrain patients to their beds for even the most minor infractions. But thanks to the work of advocates and legislators, that practice became illegal except in very specific circumstances when the patient is a threat to himself/herself or others. Today, individuals in these facilities are treated humanely. Or so we thought. Investigators recently cited a state facility in rural Minnesota for using restraints (including metal handcuffs) to control and punish residents. Staff restrained residents for “infractions” like touching a pizza box and going outside without a coat.
I’m sure that the staff are good people who are trying to do their jobs in an environment with limited resources, but it’s worrisome that the practice of using restraints became commonplace and dare I say routine in the span of two years. The citation demonstrates the critical role state agencies play in providing oversight to facilities that serve people with disabilities.
And a note to the reporter who broke the story: using the word “retarded” in both the title and body of your article signals that you could use a hand stepping out of your personal timewarp.
