According to federal officials, Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, a DeSoto psychiatric hospital, will lose Medicare funding for putting its patients in “immediate jeopardy” of harm. The decision was made based on inspection reports which detailed allegations such as a staff member who did not know how to deal with potential sexual predators, patients being left untreated for hours, and a 12-year-old boy who was injected with an anti-psychotic drug for “agitation” even though video footage showed he was watching cartoons.
In August, an unannounced inspection by officials also revealed issues with the hospital’s intake process, which included information that a 53-year-old man who arrived at the hospital in handcuffs, screaming and confused, was left in a waiting room “in a psychotic state” for nearly 16 hours. The same day, a suicidal 21-year-old female with epilepsy went without seeing a physician for 13 hours after her arrival. In response, hospital administrators submitted a “corrective action plan.” However, officials found the hospital still had major problems after another unannounced visit in October. That report revealed the hospital had failed to protect patients from sexual predators and had failed to train the staff to prevent sexual contact between patients.
When someone is injured or dies due to a health care provider’s negligence, financial recovery may be available. Such recovery is particularly important when permanent, life changing injuries are incurred. It is important to contact someone who understands the intricacies of the party’s right to recover.
Medical malpractice is a difficult area of law as it requires an understanding of both the legal practice and the mechanics of medicine. Abraham Watkins offers a free consultation to anyone wishing to pursue such claims.