A nurse working under contract at the Jacksonville Developmental Center has been fired following the choking death of a resident there earlier this month.
State officials won’t comment on the decision to terminate Cyndi Rutledge’s contract, citing an ongoing investigation.
But Rutledge told the Jacksonville Journal-Courier that she believes she was fired because she left the scene of the incident momentarily to get a defibrillator, violating protocol in such cases.
She says several other staffers were providing first aid for the choking man at the time.
Advocates for JDC residents contend the death is attributable to staff turnover since Governor Quinn announced plans to close the center.
