medical center editorial

rough draft ISH

Coincidence or medical negligence? On Feb 2, three residents from the Beatrice State Developmental Center all died within three weeks of each other, each patient seeking medical assistance on the same floor of the Developmental Center.
It seems clear to most that this is more than just a coincidence especially when according to the Kearney Hub, Nebraska’s chief medical officer ordered all “medically fragile” resident to be moved from the facility. This voices nothing more than worry that perhaps the weaker of the patients at the medical facility would not be able to survive in the week conditions they were providing.
The initial issue is obviously the unfortunate deaths of the three individuals but now we are forced to look at the bigger picture. Why did this happen in the first place and why did it take loosing certification and $29 million in federal funding to finally get some improvement in the conditions of the medical facility? This leads us to wonder one thing and one thing only, would there be any change had the loss not been so great?
There are certain things that can be dealt with at a much more relaxed level when not being tended to properly, such as building codes, restaurant regulation and so on. But when a medical facility is putting the lives of patients at risk, this cannot and should not be over looked. When we get to a point where not even the lives of human beings are being tended to properly one must wonder, what is next?
Although the case of this particular medical center has made an impact on not only the people effected directly but the people around them as well, it forces us to look and be more aware of the trust we put into the people taking care of us.
There should be some sort of urgency coming from not only the staff at the medical facility but Nebraska Officials.
Priority needs to be rearranged at the Beatrice State Developmental Center and it needs to start with the staff and leadership and it needs to be followed up by Nebraska Officials. Last but not least it’s important that we be more aware of cases like this that have been over looked in the past and pay more attention to cases like this that are happening right now, elsewhere. Being more aware is half the battle, taking a stand and making a difference is the other half.