What Did Great-Grandma Die of, Again?

The deaths from “old age” of Katharine Hepburn and Gregory Peck prompted the Sacramento Bee to investigate just what that means. Turns out “old age” hasn’t been one of the 130 standard causes of death recognized by federal and state officials since 1951. But choosing another category isn’t easy, either. A 20-year study in an Israeli hospital found that 42% of the causes of death listed on death certificates were proven wrong by postmortem exams. (Source: “Officially, old age can’t cause death,” The Sacramento Bee, www.sacbee.com, July 12, 2003)

Suspend Failure to Report Rule, or Let Perpetrator Go Unidentified?

A controversy has been brewing in Indianapolis, where a fatal beating of a resident of the Fort Wayne State Developmental Center last year has still gone unsolved, despite exhaustive investigations. Investigators believe workers at the Center have information about the crime but are refusing to cooperate because they are subject to discipline -- including termination -- for their initial failure to report information related to patient abuse or neglect. Officials have refused to grant immunity (although a 2-week window of immunity from criminal prosecution passed without any responses) to the employees. “We had a concern that if we offered it in this case that in the future people would think they didn’t have to report items until they got immunity,” Steve Cook, director of the Division of Disability, Aging and Rehabilitative Services, explained. The dead resident was supposed to have had constant one-on-one supervision. (Source: “Standstill in fatal beating frustrates family, center,” Journal Gazette, www.fortwayne.com, July 20, 2003)

Toledo Police Trained in “Victimless Prosecution” for Domestic Violence Cases

The Toledo police department is being trained to address a 72% dismissal rate for their 2,000 annual domestic violence cases (usually because a victim refuses to testify) by using a new form to make sure that no detail of an alleged crime scene is overlooked or forgotten. “The emphasis will be on carefully collecting other kinds of evidence: children’s statements, description of the damage, medical records, initial statements the victim makes to police, and photographs of any injuries and damage.” Domestic violence advocates hope the new approach will result in fewer repeat offenses. An instructor at the University of Toledo law school, Gabrielle Davis, says that using a similar approach, Quincy, Massachusetts; Duluth, Minnesota; and San Diego, California boosted their conviction rates to more than 80%. Training to use the form takes four hours, and is being underwritten by two grants. (Source: “New tactics aim to boost conviction rates,” The Toledo Blade, www.toledoblade.com, July 15, 2003)

Need to Explain Housing Options?

For a pleasant-to-read, in-depth discussion of various congregate housing options for elders, check out the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s July 20, 2003 article, “Elderly Care: Age-Old Question: A variety of facilities offers care to seniors who in some form cannot take care of themselves,” at http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Jul-20-Sun-2003/news/21571446.html/.

South Carolina Volunteer Lawyers to Prosecute Domestic Violence

Currently, first and second offense criminal domestic violence cases are heard in magistrate and municipal courts with police officers acting as both investigator and prosecutor. This often doesn’t work, in part because the officers are sometimes too busy to show up in court. To address the issue, York County is going to train volunteer attorneys to act as prosecutors in these cases (the state says it cannot afford paid prosecutors). According to the Violence Policy Center, South Carolina ranks third nationally in fatal incidents of domestic violence. So far, 31 attorneys have volunteered. (Source: “County, state program to offer lawyers in domestic-abuse cases,” The Herald, www.heraldonline.com, July 18, 2003)