Joshua Ferrarini - 1989

When an untrained employee at St. Aemelian Hospital tried to intervene against the only 13 year old boy the boy died.

The employee had a reputation of using "power" to discipline the children and he had been suspended before. Regardless of that he was allowed to restrain Joshua Ferrarini alone and declined help from a co-worker.

As it was custom in the 1980s there was no prosecution against the employee and the Hospital only received minor discpline actions.

So it took som decades more before things started to improve. Improper use of restraints continued to be a major factor when it came to claim the lives of children in residential care.

Cases like the one with Joshua Ferrari could have ended without his death. Unfortunately the political willpower wasn't existing and it claimed his life in the end.

May he rest in peace.

Sources:

• Center Cited In Death Of 13-year-old‎ (Katherine M. Skiba, The Milwaukee Journal - June 28, 1989)
• Victims - 1980s (Fornits Wiki)

Dawn Renay Perry - 1993

16 year old Dawn Renay Perry was unfortunately not the last teenager to die while the employees tried to restrain her, but her death resulted in new legislation regarding the use of restraints.

However as tough as the legislation sounded, it didn't influence the number of teenager who died as result of failed restraints.

The specific treatment facility - known back then as Behavior Training Research closed 1998, but in the state of Texas alone additional 3 teenagers died before 2010.

The politicians had the interest of girls like Miss Perry in their hearts when the proposed the new legislation but frankly they had no idea of what they were dealing with. We can only pray that they will realize it at some point and impose legislation which can save lives.

They owe Miss Perry that. She didn't deserve her faith.

May she rest in peace.

Sources:

• Victims in 1990s (Fornits Wiki)
• TEXAS LACKS TOUGH LAW ON PRONE RESTRAINT THAT'S BANNED IN THREE STATES (The Statesman, May 18, 2003)
• Ruling In Treatment Center Death Could Affect Other Investigations (The Victoria Advocate - July 5, 2002)