Police say a 36-year-old man, one of Levin’s long-term patients, alleges he was sexually assaulted repeatedly by Levin over a period of time.

Levin, 71, has regularly testified in court cases as an expert in forensic psychiatry, a factor that could widen the investigation, police said.

“He is very well known in the justice community,” said police spokesperson Kevin Brookwell.

“Through both the solicitor general’s office and Alberta Health Services — who he was employed with — all his client base, they’re looking at all those files that he may have been working on, past and present, to see if anything is impacted as a result of this particular charge.”

Levin’s arrest Tuesday came a day after he was suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.

“Our process is completely separate from a criminal case being pursued,” said college spokeswoman Kelly Eby.

“We will continue with our investigation, and that could include a review of his files. It will include interviews with witnesses, interviews with the victim.”

The process could take several months and might result in a disciplinary hearing.

Police are asking members of the public who may have additional information to come forward. Levin worked at the Peter Lougheed Centre and lectured at the University of Calgary.

Levin came to Canada in the 1990s from South Africa. He worked as a psychiatrist for the military during the apartheid era.

Levin was released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court on April 8.

Courtesy: CBC News, Calgary

July 28, 2006

Caritas Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre

11111 Jasper Ave. Edmonton, AB , T5K 0L4

A judge has upheld the decision to fire an Edmonton nursing assistant for making sexual jokes to two men who were dying of cancer.

Lorna Wright flipped the penis of a 68-year-old man she was washing at the Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre, saying, “How’s Mr. Business doing today, I bet he’s been a busy boy,” according to evidence at an arbitration board
hearing. She also suggested: “I bet there’s lots of ladies’ names on him – let’s see if the names are still there.”

The former trucker and concrete worker, referred to in the board’s report by the pseudonym George Mullen, was “visibly shaken” when he reluctantly outlined the August 2003 incident to staff a few days later. Mullen, who died of pancreatic cancer the following month, told resident care manager Scott Baerg that “in his entire life, which had been a bit on the rough side, he had never before been treated in such a manner.” Mullen said to Baerg:

“It’s not like I’m an 18-year-old girl who’s been molested, but this is the worst thing that has happened in my life.”

Around the same time, Wright went into the room of lung cancer patient Jim Forester (also a pseudonym) to provide care, telling him,“OK, get naked,” and saying, “I bet you’ve been with a lot of women — I thought it would be worn out.”

Although Forester sobbed for five minutes after revealing the incident, he also said Wright’s comments made him mad. He further told Baerg that Wright used
to tease him about sex.

“I told her that she was a devil woman and that there was a song about her … she didn’t like being called devil woman, and I told her to quit talking about sex.” Forester died in January 2004 at age 79.

Wright, whose 30-year health-care career included eight years at the General.

It is most troubling to consider all the other male residents whom this caregiver was able to molest throughout her many years of employment.

Letter

August 3, 2006

The Honourable Mr. Ron Stevens, QC

Minister of Justice and Attorney General

Room # 208, Legislature Building

10800 – 97 Avenue, Edmonton, AB. T5K 2B6

Dear Mr. Minister:

Lorna Wright – Sexual Assault of terminally ill residents @ Caritas, Edmomton General Care Centre 11111 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB. T5K 0L4

We are asking that assault charges be laid against the above named Lorna Wright in regard to the admitted, sexual assaults by her, which occurred at the Caritas, Edmonton General Care Centre.

It is most troubling to consider all the other vulnerable, voiceless male residents whom this caregiver molested throughout her twelve years of employment at that Centre. Assaults, which probably did not become known, be reported or regarded when reported, while she was employed in the long term care area. Palliative care residents are treated with somewhat more dignity than continuing care residents.

We respectfully ask your attention to this urgent matter. We would be grateful to be in receipt of your reply by August 22, 2006. Thank you.

Elder Advocates of Alberta Society

CC:

Honourable Iris Evans, Minister of Health and Wellness

Honourable Yvonne Fritz, Minister of Seniors & Community Supports

Dr. Kevin Taft MLA

Mr. Brian Mason, BA

Reply

Click to Enlarge Pages

Police Report

Click to Enlarge Pages

Second Letter

HAND DELIVERED

May 9, 2008

ATTENTION: Sgt. Trudy Triplett City of Edmonton Police Headquarters Edmonton, AB T5H 0H7

Dear Madame:

LINDA WRIGHT – SEXUAL ASSAULT OF MALE PALIATIVE CARE PATIENTS

Thank you for your phone call of May 6, 2008 in which you outlined the matter of Lorna Wright.

We find it troubling that criminal charges have not been laid under the Criminal Code, Section 271. Why were criminal charges not laid?

For the many years Ms. Wright worked in long term care, her abusive behavior would have been known to others. In such institutions, workers are afraid to report and even if they do, criminal behavior such as this is disregarded such as it has been in this instance. It is disturbing to consider how many elderly were assaulted throughout the years by her and perhaps continue to be assaulted.

You say her name is now on record, so she will not be able to work in elder care facilities. There is no legal requirement for care facilities to do criminal record checks. In fact, we have documented information that most fail to do so.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please allow us to be in receipt of a response concerning this matter by May 20, 2008.

Respectfully submitted,

Elder Advocates of Alberta Society

2727 16 Ave. NW

Calgary, AB

(403) 289-2576

“You have raped us all”

-Victim’s Family Impact Statement

A nursing aide who sexually assaulted a 91-year-old in a seniors home was sentenced to five years in prison for an act the Judge called a “despicable crime.” Rex Ongee Okumu, 41, was convicted in August 2006, of sexual assault on a resident of the Brentwood Care Centre. Justice Scott Brooker of Court of Queen’s Bench agreed with Crown Prosecutor Sheena Cunningham, that Okumu’s actions constituted a serious sexual assault. She said the case represents a “horrendous breach of trust” on a person who was as helpless as a child.

Okumu, was the second Calgary care worker in a period of three months to be convicted of sexually assaulting an elderly woman in a seniors home.

During the trial earlier this summer, a nursing assistant testified, that on the evening of Saturday, July 3rd, 2004, she found Okumu, his pants and underwear around his ankles, bent over the disabled victim in a compromising position. The woman suffers from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Okumu, with some difficulty, attempted to pull up his underwear and pants. When he saw his co-worker. “He said, ‘Don’t tell anybody, just keep it a secret’,” she said.

According to court testimony, the staff person who reported the incident to senior staff on the evening of the assault, stated that something “awful” had happened. Senior staff relied, “Was it Rex?”

Police were called the following day.

Rex Ongee Okumu leaving the Calgary Court House Photo by Brett Beadle/Calgary Herald

A staff person was threatened, that if she persisted in her complaint, her house and everyone in it would be burned down. Police provided protection for some days. It was not known who uttered this threat.

The 48 hour delay for the rape examination may have allowed wounds caused during the alleged assault to heal, Dr. Pauline Head told Court of Queens Bench. Head, an expert in emergency medicine and sexual assault injury, testified she couldn’t say with any certainty whether bruising found on the elderly woman’s genitals on July 5, 2004, was the result of an attack two days earlier or a pre-existing injury.”Two days later I might not see any evidence of tearing”, Head told the court.

While some of the injuries were consistent with forced intercourse, the victim’s age, the time lapse left Head without a definitive diagnosis.

Justice Scott Brooker ordered Okumu to register as a sex offender in Canada for 20 years, and provide a DNA sample for the national offenders data bank.

Although the victim’s family remained silent throughout the case, a victim impact statement read by a victim advocate indicated the devastation caused to the family. “You have raped us all. Our family is polarized”, the Statement read.

Elder Advocates of Alberta Society has said this case again demonstrates the need for mandatory video surveillance in seniors care facilities, much like cameras already in day cares. (See our demand letter of April 24, 2006.) Very elderly persons are like frail children, they need the same watchfulness, protection and certainty of safety.

“The victim was completely at Mr. Okumu’s mercy”, Justice Brooker told court during his sentencing. “She could not escape or otherwise protect herself from the sexual assault”. He also said she was in what could be considered a safe place.

Hidden Cameras Used to Stop Nursing Home Neglect

New York Attorney General Andrea Cuomo has begun using hidden cameras in nursing homes to stop the criminal abuse and neglect of residences. This program has already had success in uncovering patient abuse and employees falsifying medical records to cover up misdeeds at a Long Island nusing home. The program is being expanded to other areas in New York State. This is a positive step to curb injury to one of societies most vulnerable, those who find themselves elderly and infirm.While these criminal prosecutions are noteworthy, they are not the only weapon available to protect nusing home residence. The state and federal government have enacted numerous laws aimed at regulating nursing home practices. The Public Health Law in New York provides a individual with a private right of action for damages stemming from a deprivation of rights or benefits. The patient’s well being is paramount and these laws were put into place to protect the basic human rights and dignity of those who find themselves in a nursing home.
November 16, 2008

6420-101 Avenue

Edmonton, AB T6A 0H5

466-9267

In June of 2006, our office was contacted by a person whose father had to be sent to an emergency ward following a bath given by a caregiver of the Hardisty Nursing Home.

She was crying as she told us that the foreskin of her father’s penis was torn and bleeding and required suturing. The doctor at the emergency ward suggested to the family member who had accompanied her father, to take pictures and contact a social worker.

The doctor told her that there was no way that the father could have inflicted himself because of the fathers weakened and dehydrated condition.

Apparently the incident involved a caregiver who had been giving baths and elder care for 35 years. (See General Hospital incident)

An email of June 24th, 2006, stated that prior to this alleged assault, a family member had attempted to initiate a complaint of elder abuse and neglect to the Protection For Persons in Care against the nursing home. She was led to believe by Protection For Persons in Care staff that the “process is difficult and time consuming”.

Because, she was feeling overwhelmed by the care needs of an elderly mother who recently had to be relocated, also her concern for her elderly father and for the needs of her own family and grandchildren, she decided not to proceed.

On October 13th, we made a written complaint to the Edmonton Police Service, File no # 06-140512.

Click to Enlarge Pages

An agreed statement of facts shows Cesar Guzman, a caregiver at the Wentworth Manor, was found by a nurse at about 3:45 AM on July 24, 2005 at the Wentworth Manor. He was leaning over his victim and holding her arms down while attempting to have sex with her while she struggled and yelled for him to stop.

The admitted rapist immigrated from Peru in 1998. He was sentenced on June 2/06 for a maximum sentence of 18 months incarceration.

This 83 lb. woman who was unable to care for herself, dress herself, due to dementia had suffered severe, unexplained bruising, her pelvis was broken twice about two months apart. On one occasion, was found unclothed (naked) on the bathroom floor, she suffered three broken ribs and a punctured lung while in care at the Wentworth Manor, a bruise under her eye. The elder also suffered some vaginal bleeding described as “similar to a menstrual period”. Other elder females on this dementia ward also suffered vaginal bleeding.

Her family, which was desperate to protect the mother, had for months requested a bed alarm. They had also offered to purchase and monitor camera equipment but senior staff of the facility disallowed all protection of this vulnerable person. Finally after half a year a bed alarm was installed.

The first night that the alarm (bed sensor) was installed, Guzman was “caught”. The alarm rang at the RN’s desk. She ran down to the elder’s room and found Cesar Guzman attacking this frail, dependent elder. The terrified 86 year old woman was heard to be shouting,

“Get away from me you bugger”

Guzman did not deny the assault to the RN. He had shut off the bed alarm at the bedside, but the alarm rang at the nursing station. Guzman was sent home. Family were not called until noon.

The Administrator of the Facility, Bev.Routledge, RN, was quoted last February as stating,

“I don’t know what else we could have done”

Indeed.

Following the sexual assault, the victim was bathed, her bed linen and night attire laundered and she was put back to bed. To date there have been no charges laid against the staff of Wentworth for interference with a criminal investigation. The family has been denied access to the nursing file, unless the physician is present.

The Protection For Persons In Care Act requires:

Section 5(1)

Every agency has a duty to protect the clients it serves from abuse and to maintain a reasonable level of safety for its clients.

A complaint has been made to the Protection for Persons in Care against:

• The Wentworth Manor, (Brenda Strafford Foundation) et al,
• The physician
• The Administrator,
• The Director of Care
• The Ward RN

It is difficult to believe that one individual could have suffered such severe injuries in a care facility which allegedly provides safe haven to vulnerable persons. She is now living in another elder care facility and has suffered no further injuries.