"Trying to Put to Sleep on Time"...Local Nursing Homes Suspected of Unauthorized Narcotics Administration to Elderly

Allegations of Unauthorized Drug Administration in Care Facility
"Forced Ingestion of Hypnotics, Sedatives, and Schizophrenia Medication"

Allegations have been raised that narcotic drugs were administered without authorization to elderly residents at a nursing facility located in Gyeryong, Chungnam.

On the 25th, KBS reported that health authorities recently filed a complaint with the police against the director of a nursing home in Gyeryong City, Chungnam, on charges including violation of the Medical Service Act. The nursing home is suspected of administering hypnotic sedatives classified as narcotic sleeping pills to elderly residents without permission.

[Image source=KBS News]

Inside the facility, there were statements that if elderly residents did not sleep on time or caused problems, they forcibly administered drugs prescribed to other residents by diverting them. Narcotic hypnotic sedatives and schizophrenia medications prescribed under other patients' names were given without authorization to unrelated elderly individuals.

A former employee of the nursing home revealed, "They slit open the package of the diverted Mr. OO's Zolminjeong (a narcotic) with a knife and put it in," adding, "There are more than 10 elderly residents, and the drugs were repeatedly administered about 4 to 5 times."

Health authorities conducting the investigation confirmed that the stock of psychotropic drugs remaining at the nursing home exceeded the amount prescribed. It was also confirmed that the nursing home illegally received proxy prescriptions despite most elderly residents being ambulatory. The nursing home has not made any particular statement regarding the related allegations.

Meanwhile, under the Narcotics Control Act, when a narcotic user issues a prescription for narcotics to a patient, the prescription must include and be sealed with the patient's name, address, and age; the name, quantity, usage, dosage, and duration of the narcotic; the date of issuance of the prescription; and the narcotic user's name, license number, and the name and location of their workplace. Narcotic users are limited to medical doctors, dentists, or veterinarians, and those without a license cannot use narcotics, issue narcotics for use, or issue narcotic prescriptions.