I have blogged on this topic before. The use of hidden cameras in nursing homes to “catch” bad guys neglecting or abusing the elderly is a damn good use of technology. My home state of Virginia has guidelines for the use of hidden cameras which protect patient privacy yet expose staff (and sometimes other residents) who mistreat and abuse those in need of protection.
The use of “granny cams” is back in the national news.
Ohio Attorney General, Mike DeWine, recently announced that he was shutting down a Zanesville, Ohio nursing home after authorities had installed surveillance cameras in patients’ rooms because of complaints about mistreatment. An article from the Columbus Dispatch reported the Attorney General’s action marked the first time state authorities had used granny cams to spy on nursing-home operations. DeWine promised it wouldn’t be the last.
Wonder if Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli would ever take such steps to protect Virginia’s elderly and infirm? I seriously doubt it. It seems Virginia’a Attorney General is more interested in suing the EPA to prevent the agency from setting limits on green house gas pollution or trying to stop Health Care Reform.