Assemblyman Eric Munoz said the agreement did not go far enough. He called for the state to withhold $125,000 in state aid set to go to Bancroft this year.
"The state should not continue to subsidize neglectful and substandard care," said Munoz, who is a medical doctor.
In the fall of 2002, Munoz sponsored "Matthew's Law", a proposal to limit the use of physical restraints. The measure was named after Goodman, who had autism and was a resident at The Lindens, an institution for 60 youths with developmental disabilities run by Bancroft. Goodman died of aspiration pneumonia, acute respiratory distress and a blood infection.
Goodman's mother, Janice Roach, claimed that the excessive use of restraints and heavy medication at Lindens weakened her son's immune system. She pointed to evidence that Matthew was placed in restraints for hours at a time -- sometimes overnight -- along with a medical report that showed the teen lost 23 pounds in the final six days of his life.
2003
October 24: Mother Sues Institution And Hospital Over Matthew Goodman's Death
February 19: New Report Says Goodman Was Not Neglected
January 22: Advocates Vow To Continue Push For 'Matthew's Law'
January 17: "Matthew's Law" Rejected For Compromise On Restraints
2002
December 19: Bancroft Given Two Week Notice
September 19: Teen's Death Prompts New Restraint And Seclusion Measure
September 10: Health worker admits abusing autistic teen
August 28: Treatment of teenager ruled abusive
July 11: Facility Charged With Largest Fine Ever, State Says
July 2: After Teen's Death, Districts Thinking Twice About Sending Children Out Of State
Related resources:
Pass Matthew's Law
http://matthewslaw.bravepages.com/
Text of Assembly Bill No. 2855, "Matthew's Law" (State of New Jersey Legislature)
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2002/Bills/A3000/2855_I1.PDF
Rick Tallman's Testimony from January 16, 2003
http://www.InclusionDaily.com/news/institutions/nj/testimony.htm
Bancroft has agreed to raise staffing levels; randomly monitor employee behaviors; improve internal abuse and neglect investigations; improve medical care; and video record staff-to-resident interactions where allowed by parents. The Child's Advocate Office will hire an independent expert to monitor the changes for at least six month.
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