Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission Chicago Regional met March 28.
Here is the minutes as provided by the commission:
HRA Chairperson, Ashley Casati opened the meeting of the Chicago Regional Human Rights Authority
(HRA) at 5:33 p.m. The meeting was held at Madden Mental Health Center, Hines, IL.
Members Present: Ashley Casati, Michael Shukis, Eric Mathiasen, Paul Porter, Sheila Orr and Regina
Pessagno.
Members Absent: Nicole Erickson and Donna Claffy.
Staff Present: Pat Betzen
Guests: None
Ashley noted that a quorum was present. Ashley read the Confidentiality Statement.
Approval of February 14, 2017 Meeting Minutes. A motion was made to approve the February 14, 2017
meeting minutes. The motion was properly seconded and passed.
Communications: None
New Business
New Complaints:
#17-030-9020. The complaint alleges that a recipient’s records were altered by a facility to hide illegal actions
taken against the recipient while he was a mental health recipient there. A motion was made not to accept the
complaint for investigation due to the fact that the incident occurred over fifty years ago. The motion was
properly seconded and passed.
#17-030-9021. The complaint alleges that a recipient was nearly finished with his master’s degree when the
graduate dean told the Board of Commissioners that he was mentally ill and he was dropped from the program.
A motion was made not to accept the complaint due to the fact that the event occurred over fifty years ago. The
motion was properly seconded and passed.
#17-030-9022. The complaint alleges that a recipient and his attorney were required to meet in the hallway of
the psychiatric unit where their conversations could be overheard by other patients and by staff. A release has
been obtained. A motion was made to accept the complaint for investigation. The motion was properly
seconded and passed.
#17-030-9023. The complaint alleges that a recipient was discharged from a hospital after he
refused to sign voluntary paperwork without first speaking with a physician. The complaint documentation
included correspondence from the hospital that indicated the complaint had been investigated, the investigation
had determined that there were mistakes made, and they had initiated training to address the issues. A motion
was made not to accept the complaint because it had been adequately addressed by the hospital. The motion
was properly seconded and passed.
#17-030-9024. The complaint alleges that:
1. Due to the hospital's repeatedly filing faulty petitions (8), the recipient was hospitalized much longer than he
should have been.
2. The recipient was not given alternatives to medication as he requested.
3. The recipient was administered emergency medication for no adequate reason.
4. The recipient had to meet with his attorney in the quiet room on a mattress on the floor because the facility
said they had no other room for them.
5. It is difficult or impossible to have phone conversations between recipients and their attorneys.
A release has been received. A motion was made to accept the complaint for investigation. The motion was
properly seconded and carried.
#17-030-9025. The complaint alleges that a recipient was court ordered to be treated with Haldol, however the
facility treated her with Haldol decanoate, despite no authority to do so. A release has been obtained. A motion
was made to accept the complaint for investigation. The motion was properly seconded and passed.
Regina made a motion to enter into closed session at 5:48 p.m. pursuant to Section 21 of the Guardianship and
Advocacy Act (20 ILCS 3955/21) and Section 120/2 (c) (4) of the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/2); the
motion was seconded by Paul and carried. The purpose of the closed session was as follows: to discuss updates
of open cases and case closure.
The HRA returned to open session at 5:57 p.m. having taken no action in closed session. A summary of the
closed session includes a review of reports of findings as well as case closures.
Unfinished Business
Report of Findings: None.
Case Closures:
#17-030-9008 Madden. The HRA considered case closure for case #17-030-9008 Madden. A motion was
made to close the case and make the report part of the public record. The motion was properly seconded and
passed.
Case Status Reports:
#17-030-9011 Hartgrove. The site visit has been set for April 20, 2017
#17-030-9012 Sabin Magnet. The school has provided the record. A site visit has been set for April 25, 2017.
Chicago Lakshore. The HRA discussed the increase in the number of complaints at Lakeshore.
Announcements and Comments:
The next meeting of the HRA is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at Madden Mental Health
Center.
Adjournment: The HRA agreed to adjourn at 6:18 p.m.
https://www.illinois.gov/sites/gac/Press/Documents/minutes/2017/chicago03282017minutes.pdf
Alerts Sign-up