7 year old girl killed at Behavior Modification Clinic

As reported in the St Paul Pioneer Press

A 7-year-old girl who died a day after being physically restrained by employees at a Rice Lake, Wis., counseling clinic was placed in a so-called "control hold" because she was "gargling milk," according to a report by state health officials.

In an investigation into the girl's death, the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services also cited "multiple violations" of state law at the Northwest Counseling and Guidance Clinics, including the law governing physical restraint of clients.

Angellika Arndt, who had attended the day treatment clinic five days a week for a month for behavioral problems, had been restrained on nine separate occasions, according to the report released late Thursday.

Each time, staff members placed her in a control hold for one to two hours. The last time, on May 25, she lost consciousness. She died a day later at Children's Hospital & Clinics in Minneapolis.

The Hennepin County medical examiner ruled her death a homicide caused by "complications of chest compression asphyxiation" leading to "cardiopulmonary arrest while restrained by another person."

Meanwhile, the Rice Lake Police Department and Barron County District Attorney's office continue their investigation of her death. The district attorney's office said it did not expect to decide before July 15 whether to press criminal charges.

[...]

The two staff members who restrained Angellika on the day she lost consciousness were immediately placed on paid administrative leave, Tucker said.

Among the report's other findings:

• The clinic failed to provide required services by a physician or registered nurse.

• The clinic failed to document the side effects of Angellika's drugs.

• The clinic failed to provide direct clinical review and assessment of the two employees who restrained Angellika the day she passed out.

• There was no evidence that the clinic collaborated with the girl's psychiatrist other than a request for information about medications and a request for a treatment plan signature.

The girl, whom friends and family called "Angie," was born in Milwaukee. She became a ward of the state and was placed in the Rusk County foster home of Dan and Donna Pavlik in January 2005.

She was diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder, mood disorder and attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder, according to the state's report.

The Pavliks have declined to comment on the case.

Strange way to make a child docile and obedient