Michigan authorities deny "Disgusting" neglect occuring in MI nursing homes

An advocacy group says many patients in MI have experienced severe nursing home neglect and abuse.
The Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service says one of the worst cases involves a resident who had to have maggots suctioned out of her throat, after she was taken to an emergency room because she was having trouble breathing.
Another resident had maggots infesting her body near her catheter.
But state officials say these are isolated cases, and most nursing homes do a good job caring for residents.
Mike Pemble is with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
"Certainly these are two disgusting cases, and these kind of thing should not happen -- and I would not make excuses why they happened," says Pemble. "But I don't think it's fair to hold it up and say this is happening in all nursing homes."
Pemble says he does not think the state’s oversight of nursing homes needs major changes.
The advocacy group says the state needs to increase penalties against nursing homes where abuses occur.
State: "Disgusting" neglect cases not typical in MI nursing homes Michigan Radio