Authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold public hearings to investigate the operations of the city-owned Philadelphia Nursing Home and the events that occurred at said nursing home on September 23, 2004 wherein six infirm patients of the Philadelphia Nursing Home had their feeding tubes cut, thereby putting their lives at risk and requesting that the Office of the District Attorney of Philadelphia initiate a full investigation of this incident.

WHEREAS, The measure of a society is based on how it treats its poor and elderly; and

WHEREAS,

Residents of public nursing homes are among the weakest and most needy members of society and therefore require the protection of government; and

WHEREAS,

The City of Philadelphia is the legal owner of the Philadelphia Nursing Home and thereby is ultimately charged with ensuring that the residents of the nursing home are safe and properly cared for; and

WHEREAS, Episcopal Long Term Care is the management company responsible for operating the Philadelphia nursing home, and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Nursing Home has a history of deficiencies including complaints of abuse of patients, unsanitary quarters, inebriated patients allowed to leave the premises without permission, and other assorted deficiencies; and

WHEREAS,

On September 23, 2004 six mentally impaired patients at the city-owned Philadelphia Nursing Home were found in their beds with their feeding tubes partially severed; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

,

That the Committee on Public Health and Human Services is hereby authorized to hold public hearings to investigate the operations of the city-owned Philadelphia Nursing Home and the events that occurred at said nursing home on September 23, 2004 wherein six infirm patients of the Philadelphia Nursing Home had their feeding tubes cut and in furtherance of such investigation the Committee is authorized to issue subpoenas as the Chairperson deems necessary to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents to the full extent authorized pursuant to section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter.

End