Nurses and retirement home director convicted after they have an internal aerosol therapy performed ‘as a joke’: « morally reprehensible » (inland)

The facts came to light when a 90-year-old man underwent a disgusting aerosol therapy through his anus on Friday evening 12 October 2017 for no less than 45 minutes. That was administered by a young colleague. He received the therapy ‘recommended’ by head nurse SV (50) and nurse JS (64), who had told her as a joke that it was a new therapy. After the facts, another colleague with her diary went full of notes to a municipal councilor who called in the police. A thorough investigation was then started in the OCMW retirement house. That revealed a lot of other facts, after which SV and JS were prosecuted due to degrading treatment after aerosol therapy and unintentional success and injuries for three other victims. Former director HB was also on trial for those latter facts, just like for guilty absenteeism together with SV and JS

Year in prison asked after ‘joke’ with aerosol therapy via anus in retirement home: « Absurd that she didn’t realize it was a joke »

More than 7 years after the facts, the court in Veurne is now a judgment. The trio was punished for the unintentional success and injuries due to a lack of precaution to three victims, and acquitted for a fourth. The guilty omission was not proven. « After all, there is no conscious refusal to provide assistance to others, » the judge stated. The two nurses were also convicted of degrading treatment. « The facts are absolutely morally reprehensible and there is no doubt that the victim underwent a degrading treatment, » the judge decided. « The fact that this was intended as a joke or hazing does not detract from the facts. The notes in the diary are clear in that area. However, the court does take the time of time into account since the facts and is of the opinion that there is an exceeding of the reasonable period. The facts are too serious for a suspension or work sentence. » The three defendants all received three months in prison with a postponement. 1 year in prison with a postponement was requested.

Cash

The three were also punished for the facts that Zeger Lycke, then 84 years old, happened to in the retirement home. « Papa died shortly after he was left unattended on the toilet, fell, and several brain bleeding sustained, » says his daughter Daisy Lycke (60) and her husband Marc Corteel (67) from Oostduinkerke. “We did not get any information about it at all and there was nothing in the day report that day. Only last year, no less than 9 years after the facts, did we suddenly receive a letter from the court that there might have been more to the death of Papa. When reading the file we fell from one surprise in the other. We understand that everyone was able to stop it in the end of the time we already in the end of the time it seems like it in the end of the time we in the end of the time we in it that they really have it in the end of the time. We are very difficult to find the condemnation, whether it is a prison sentence. The family received compensation.

Image damage

The OCMW Van Nieuwpoort also set itself a civil party. The three must each pay the OCMW a euro moral compensation and a euro provisional material compensation. « Especially symbolic, » says Master Bart Staelens. « The OCMW and the city of Nieuwpoort suffered serious image damage and everyone has their role in it. Either by looking up by the facts themselves or by the other way. The fact that one can only come up with this mischievous joke, and that this inhuman treatment was performed by their hands is proof of how deep the root was in the Zathe. »

The lawyers of both SV, JS and HB did not want to respond to the case. « We can only say that we disagree with the punishment imposed and asked the acquittal. We will discuss everything still to appeal, » says master Brecht Dawyndt on behalf of head nurse SV