The lack of monitoring or prosecution of those involved in deaths or abuse of disabled residents in homes for the disabled is addressed in a NY Times editorial. In the last decade, over 1200 deaths attributed to unnatural or unknown causes have occurred, in addition to instances of abuse, in publicly financed homes for the disabled.
The editorial supports new legislation proposed by Governor Cuomo. The legislative package would create a new agency to oversee these homes, a code of ethical conduct for workers, a hot line to report abuse and an increase in criminal penalties for endangering the lives of the disabled. It would also expand the state's Freedom of Information Act to require private facilities with state licenses to make public information about abuse or neglect.
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