Complaint Investigation Report

Allegation: Staff forged residents’ signature.

It Is alleged that staff forged Client #1 (C1) signature on a form submitted to C1’s hospital. Regarding this allegation, it is reported that facility staff forged C1’s signature on consent forms submitted to the hospital and other facility forms, to obtain C1’s medical insurance card, Identification card, and social security card. C1 is not conserved and states that they did not authorize any signatures for any documents. LPA interviewed the Administrator over the phone, and they state that no signatures for any clients have been forged. Administrator states that if clients do not wish to sign documents, then they do not need to sign anything. Furthermore, Administrator stated that staff explain what the consent forms are for and if clients chose not to sign, then the forms don’t get signed and a notation is made that client refused to sign. LPA interviewed Staff #1 (S1) and it was stated that S1 has no knowledge of any documents being forged, nor would staff do that since clients can refuse to sign documents and staff is allowed to notate the refusal. LPA interviewed Staff #2 (S2) and S2 corroborated what Administrator and S1 stated, S2 confirms that when a client refuses to sign documents the staff just notate the document as “refused to sign”. LPA interviewed C1 and C1 stated that they do not have proof that documents were forged, C1 states that it’s a suspicion but can’t prove it. C1 stated that they do not understand how facility has C1’s documents and suspects that the documents were obtained illegally. LPA explained to C1 that some documents are provided by North Los Angeles Regional Center (NLARC) for all clients as part of their client folders. C1 stated that they were not aware of this. LPA interviewed Client #2 (C2) and Client #3 (C3) and both stated that they have voluntarily singed any documents given to them after staff have explained what the documents are for and that they have not witnessed any documents being forged. During LPA record review LPA discovered that C1 has signed numerous documents to include consent for medical treatment, consent of release of information and other forms to compare C1’s signature, there was also no record of a social security card or medical insurance card, C1’s identification card was present and C1 confirmed that they provided it. LPA spoke to C1 and showed C1 said documents to confirm if these were signed by C1. C1 confirmed that they did in fact sign these documents and that they were not forged. Therefore, based on interviews, documents and observations, this allegation is deemed Unsubstantiated.

No citation issued. Exit interview conducted. Copy of report provided to Administrator and House Manager.