11 November 2008 - Kent, WA, USA Today’s Seattle Post-Intelligencer carried an investigative report on its front page, “Voiceless and Abused: Woman allegedly raped by caregiver may have been attacked before,” by Ruth Teichroeb. The report follows the story of “Jamie,” who became pregnant and miscarried in March, 2008 after being raped by a nursing assistant. The report provides an excellent account of the case and raises important questions about what needs to be done to protect people in care.Teichroeb, who worked in the field of mental health before her current career in journalism, has frequently reported on issues if abuse and neglect of vulnerable people. Her 2001, reporting on sexual abuse in schools for the deaf in Washington and across the United States, “Abuse and Silence: Examining America’s schools for the deaf,” provides another excellent example of her work. Her new report, “Voiceless and Abused: Woman allegedly raped by caregiver may have been attacked before,” is equally compelling.
The Washington State Department of Health published a brief description of the charges and the revocation of license on September 18, 2008, along with accounts of other registration or certification suspensions and revocations of health care providers:
In September 2008 the Nursing Assistant Program permanently revoked the license of Joseph Wakarugi Thurura (NA00188252). Thurura had sexual contact with a developmentally disabled, blind resident of the long term care facility where he worked, and impregnated her. He has been criminally charged with second degree rape.
In June 2008, a male nurse in Buck’s county, Pennsylvania was charged with child molestation of a 14-year-old boy who is also blind and has a developmental disability, according to the Kenyan Observer.
