Stropes Ex Rel. Taylor v. Heritage House Childrens Center of Shelbyville, Inc.

DeBRULER, Justice.

Fourteen-year-old David Stropes was the victim of cerebral palsy and severe mental retardation. He had the mental capacity of a five-month-old infant and was without the verbal and motor skills necessary to perform or assist in even the simplest tasks associated with his own sustenance or sanitation. David had been placed at the Heritage House Childrens Center of Shelby-ville, Inc., (Heritage) as a ward of the Marion County Welfare Department to assure his maintenance, security, and well-being.

Robert Griffin, a nurse’s aide employed by Heritage, was expected to feed, bathe,…