It appears that Dave Bachmann, the Democratic Party’s candidate fore McHenry County Coroner has won at least the “framing of the debate” part of the campaign.
The headline of Chuck Keeshan’s Daily Herald article on the race is
Nursing home deaths become political fodder in coroner’s race
Keeshan writes about how the issue is now not only in the court system, but in the “court of public opinion.”
Bachmann first called incumbent Marlene Lantz to task on McHenry County Blog on April 14th.
The way Bachmann put lays out the chargeto the Daily Herald:
“Had Miss Lantz gone out to the nursing home in April or early May, she would have caught this.”
Lantz’ reply to the Daily Herald:
“Because no one came to us with any concerns we were comfortable with those deaths. I was not alarmed at the time.”
When the Virginia Cole wrongful death suit was filed against the Woodstock Residence, et al, in early September, 2008, one of the attachments was the investigative report from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Apparently based on that report and/or the State Police Report, Dr. Bruce Hyman made the following statement:
“On or about April 3, 2006, the Administrator at Woodstock Residence was aware that Morphine Sulfate was being administered to patients without an order and/or outside prescribed parameters.”
If you go to Bachmann’s web site, you will find an article dated July 25, 2008, entitled,
The following is excerpted from that Bachmann article:
“(Lantz) should have gone to the nursing home around late April or early May. At minimum, the bodies should have been brought back to the McHenry County Morgue, to preserve toxicology…
“As documented as far back as April 2008, Bachmann has contented and has proved in his writings on his campaign blog, that Lantz should have gone to the nursing home in Late April or Early May of 2006.“
So it seems that Bachmann was able to identify the time period when toxicology samples should have been taken before the dates of the investigated deaths were made public.
Below the Daily Herald article, a Democrat identified as “Merri,” who says she walked the Crystal Lake parade route with Bachmann, left this comment below the story:
“I was in the fourth of July parade in Crystal Lake with Mr Bachmann. I marched with the local Democrats, and happened to be standing near him as we began.
“I am new to politics, and I never knew anything about what a coroner does. He explained the job to me in great detail, and also explained his qualifications.
“I was really impressed by his passion for the job, and I also learned how important that job really is. I think his stand on this nursing home is important.
“My 96 year old grandmother died in a nursing home in Long Grove that ended up being on 20/20 for their abuses. Thank God there are public servants that want to protect our elderly against these abuses.”