New Jersey Fails Matthew Goodman

With Liberty and Justice for All........ Excerpts from NJ newspapers...

State finds autistic boy was abused---S. Jersey facility improperly restrained child in month before death----Star-Ledger August 28, 2002--by Susan K. Livio "A boy with autism who died in February had been abused and neglected at a South Jersey facility... The probe found that Bancroft Neurohealth Inc. of Haddonfield, a state-licensed faciity, improperly restrained Matthew Goodman, 14, of Buckingham, PA......Goodman's parents contend that Bancroft's care--which including a regimen of medications and physical restraints--compromised his immune system......Janice Roach, the boy's mother described the findings..'We would not treat an animal this way, let alone a human being.' "

N.J. Mental -Health Center Hit with $127,700 In Fines ---by Will Van Sant, Inquirer Suburban Staff, Thursday, July 11, 2002 "New Jersey regulators have fined Bancroft NeuroHealth of Haddonfield $127,700 for violating laws meant to protect patients. The state said the penalties, imposed Monday stemmed from failures in care that included not offering residents nutritious food and physical and sexual abuse....."

Use of Restraints comes under Scrutiny---- June 23, 2002, by Susan K. Livio, Star-Ledger Staff "Ethan Ellis, the executive director of the New Jersey Disabilities Council, said the federal surveys confirm long-standing concerns advocates have had that restraints have been used indiscriminately, not for the benefit of the person receiving them but for the convenience of the staff."

"...according to Vito Albanese...his disabled son was restrained as punishment at a private New Jersey facility where his son had one-on-one supervision."

"The state of the art for caring for these people has changed but we in New Jersey stayed the same," Munoz said.