Could Milwaukee Granny Cams Stop Abuse?
In some states, hidden cameras reveal nursing home abuse
On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Thursday, July 21, 2011.
An increasing number of hidden cameras are capturing nursing home abuse in communities across the country.
The so-called “granny cams” are legal in many states. Family members use them to make sure their elderly loved ones are safe from harm and to be reassured they are cared for properly. The devices can be hidden in many places, including clocks, pens and eyeglasses, and are often easily purchased online or at a local business.
Laws in places prevent the cameras from being turned off or covered, and nursing home residents cannot be asked to leave permanently for the use of a camera. People in states that don’t have the laws are pushing for similar rules to be enacted.
Although there is no law about using hidden cameras in Ohio nursing homes, for example, one man discovered the rough treatment of his mother, who suffers from dementia, by using one. He said he would like to see a law pass giving those the ability to freely use them.
According to WKYC TV, an expert on elderly abuse says that between hidden cameras and employee privacy, it is more important to keep nursing home residents safe and make sure they are treated well. She adds that many times patients with dementia have a higher chance of being physically and psychologically abused.
Others, including state representatives and attorneys in some areas, also believe the right to have a hidden camera is one the public should have in order to prevent further abuse from happening. It is a controversial practice, to be sure, and it remains to be seen whether it will become more commonplace country-wide.
Source: WKYC, “Investigator: ‘Granny cams’ used to capture elder abuse,” Tom Meyer, 5 July 2011
If you have suffered an injury through no fault of your own, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.