Fellow Advocates,
I am enclosing a sample FOIA request that I recently filed and the
ensuing front page headline article that resulted. We have found
that using the FOIA is one of the best ways to get publicity. As a
result of information garnered from FOIAs we have had articles in
the WSJ, been quoted in NYTimes and much more. Also, newspapers are
only too happy to do articles when you inform them that FOIA
requests were denied. They have the same problems and therefore are
keen on protecting the integrity of the "ACT"
Hope more of you will use it.
Violette King-Nursing Home Monitors- Illinois and Missouri
______________________________________________________________________
October 4, 2000
Freedom Of Information Act Officer
Coroner's Office
Madison County Illinois
157 N. Main
Edwardsvillle, IL 62002
RE: Deaths of Nursing Home Residents
Dear Sir/Madam,
Pursuant to the "Freedom of Information Act" please
furnish the following information: Coroner's sources of income
excluding salary paid by Madison County.
In the last 28 years: (In the event information is not available for
28 years, please give the information for the last 10 years)
How many deaths of nursing home residents have been investigated
each year?
Of these, how many occurred in the nursing home and how many in the
hospital?
What policy and procedure was followed in investigating the deaths
in the nursing home?
What policy and procedure was followed in investigating the deaths
in the hospital?
How many of these investigations by the Coroner were turned over to
the police for investigation?
How many were turned over to the States Attorney for investigation?
How many were turned over to the Illinois State Police for
investigation?
How many were turned over to the Medicare/Medicaid Fraud unit for
investigation?
How many autopsies were performed?
If any of this information is not made available to me, please
cite the law that makes it unavailable. Please provide this
information within 7 working days as the law requires.
Sincerely,
Violette King