Politics on the Hudson

   The state Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, which was reamed today in a report from Inspector General Joseph Fisch, said the agency conducted a “shoddy child-abuse investigation, failing to fully address allegations that Jonathan (Carey) was neglected, inadequately fed and left to lie naked on a urine-soaked bed.”  

   The Commission on Quality of Care and the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities were found to have neglected their duties in investigating allegations that a Dutchess County school abused an autistic and developmentally disabled boy in its care. Jonathan Carey, whose family is from the Albany suburb of Delmar, was in the school’s care from 2003 to 2004. He died last year while in a state-run facility in Schenectady County. Two workers were convicted in connection with his death.

   A statement from Jane Lynch, the CQC’s new chief operating officer said the agency must operate differently in order to address the problems and she is making immediate changes.

   “We must take new measures to ensure that every investigation of child abuse and neglect complaints and every care and treatment review is completed in a comprehensive, sensitive and professional manner,” Lynch said in a statement, which is on the CQC’s Web site.

   A few weeks ago, Gary O’Brien stepped down as chairman of the CQC after 10 years in the post. Lynch previously was a deputy commissioner with the state Office of Children and Family Services. 

   Diana Jones-Ritter, commissioner of OMRDD, issued a statement saying that she agrees with the inspector general’s findings and her agency is prepared to implement the report’s recommendations. She noted that the inspector general did not find evidence of an “alleged coverup” in OMRDD.