As FINR Hires Private Lobbyists, the Consumer Federation of the Southeast Asks What Institute is Doing to Protect its Patients
CONTACT: Erica Villanueva 850-222-1996
As FINR Hires Private Lobbyists, the Consumer Federation of the Southeast Asks What Institute is Doing to Protect its Patients
TALLAHASSEE – After discovering state filings showing the Florida Institute of Neurologic Rehabilitation (FINR) has hired a group of lobbyists to protect its interests in Tallahassee, the Consumer Federation of the Southeast today called on Florida state agencies to provide oversight of FINR patients to ensure they are receiving the quality care they need. The Consumer Federation of the Southeast also challenged FINR to address allegations of abuse and neglect of its patients by providing a detailed public account of the level of care it is providing in its Hardee County, Florida, facility and the qualifications and training of every employee who treats, oversees and interacts with patients.
“As the national call to make sure the institute is protecting its patients grows, FINR erred on the side of protecting itself by hiring a small army of lobbyists in Tallahassee. It’s as if FINR has its own special interest protection team on speed dial,” said Walter Dartland, executive director of the Consumer Federation of the Southeast. “We need to focus on patients’ needs, first. Are these brain-injured patients receiving the care they need or are they just being warehoused? Families need to know the answers to these questions. If necessary, a Hardee County Grand Jury should be impaneled.”
On August 2, three state agencies conducted a surprise inspection at FINR. Beginning the following day through Aug. 10, according to the State of Florida’s Registered Lobbyist Directory, FINR hired the following group of legislative and executive branch lobbyists:
Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation, Inc
According to a published report, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Children and Families confirmed three dozen allegations of abuse at the facility going back to 2005. As institute officials readily admitted in a news account to “egregious violations of trust and decency” by some of the institute’s staff, a state abuse investigation is ongoing.
The recent surprise inspection at FINR came just days after the Consumer Federation of the Southeast called on authorities to immediately send a protective services team to FINR to ensure the safety and well-being of each resident. The emergency call came after Bloomberg News published a compelling national report detailing a dangerous alleged pattern of abuse and neglect of residents at the facility. The State of Connecticut subsequently has begun removing patients from the FINR facility.
Dartland said that instead of spending money on lobbyists, a better approach would be for FINR to work aggressively with all interested parties, families and regulators to ensure all questions are answered, and any problems are corrected.
“While FINR has taken action to protect itself in the halls of the State Capitol, we’re concerned about the treatment FINR patients are receiving behind the walls of its facility,” Dartland said. “We commend the State for its swift surprise inspection of FINR, but patient families rightfully are deeply concerned and deserve to know their loved ones are in a safe and secure environment. We must ensure that patient protection supersedes special interest protection. The patients deserve nothing less.”
As part of an effort to increase public awareness of the issue, Dartland invited concerned individuals to join the Protect People with Brain Injuries Facebook community set up on the site at: https://www.facebook.com/ProtectPeopleWithBrainInjuries
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