western state hospital failed to report possible patient abuse

Western State Hospital failed to report possible patient abuse, DSHS says Published November 7, 2016 Associated Press SEATTLE -- Washington state's largest psychiatric hospital failed to report an allegation of patient abuse by a former nursing assistant to health officials in a timely manner.

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Where is Western State Hospital?

WSH is located in the city of Lakewood, Washington, which is seven miles south of Tacoma.

What is WSH in Washington?

WSH is one of two state-owned psychiatric hospitals for adults in the state of Washington. WSH provides services to individuals in 20 western Washington counties. Eastern State Hospital, the other state-owned psychiatric hospital for adults, serves 18 counties in eastern Washington. The Child Study and Treatment Center provides psychiatric services ...

How to file a complaint against a hospital?

1. Talk to the treatment team#N#2. File an official written complaint with the hospital#N#3. File a complaint with the hospital’s patient advocate or abuse hotline#N#4. Write to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) #N#5. Contact an attorney#N#a. Northwest Justice Project (NJP) for WSH#N#b. Northwest Justice Project (NJP) for ESH#N#c. CLEAR#N#d. Department of Assigned Counsel (DAC)#N#6. Contact other legal or oversight agencies#N#a. Disability Rights Washington (DRW)#N#b. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights#N#c. U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)#N#d. The Joint Commission#N#e. Washington State Department of Health

What are the rights of a hospital?

1. Right to be free from abuse, neglect and haras sment#N#2. Right to adequate care and treatment#N#3. Right to be informed of rights#N#4. Right to retain basic civil rights despite admission to the hospital#N#5. Right to personal privacy and sexual expression#N#6. Right to religious exercise#N#7. Right to voice concerns and be heard#N#8. Rights relating to treatment and care#N#a. Right to participate in treatment planning and decision making#N#b. Rights relating to the hospital’s level system#N#c. Right to refuse antipsychotic medication , Electroconvulsant Therapy (ECT), or other treatment#N#d. Seclusion and restraint#N#e. Discharge rights#N#i. Discharge planning for civil patients #N#ii. Conditional release and related rights for forensic patients#N#9. Right to contact attorneys or advocates#N#10. Right to communication #N#a. Mail#N#b. Telephone access#N#c. Visitors#N#11. Right to personal items#N#12. Financial rights#N#a. Right to receive pay for employment#N#b. Right to personal funds#N#c. Right to receive notice regarding financial obligation for care and treatment#N#d. Right to control money#N#13. Access to medical records

How to file a civil rights complaint?

The patient may file the complaint online through the OCR website at https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/filing-a-complaint/complaint-process/index.htm l , or file the complaint in writing using the Civil Rights Discrimination Complaint Form Package. That package is available at the OCR website listed above or by contacting OCR and requesting the package. A patient may also simply file a written complaint without using the Discrimination Complaint Form Package. Written complaints can be mailed to:

What is the right to input in treatment decisions?

This right to have input in treatment decisions is broader than just decisions regarding a patient’s mental health or medical treatment. For example, a patient has the right to receive food and meals based on the patient’s individual medical needs or consistent with the patient’s religious beliefs. A patient can explain his or her dietary or religious practice to a treatment team member so that the diet becomes a part of the treatment plan.

How long does it take to respond to a complaint?

Once a patient has filed a complaint, the receiving staff person must respond quickly to the grievance. The receiving staff person has seven days to review the complaint and respond to the patient in writing to acknowledge receipt of the complaint. If the investigation of the complaint has been completed in these first seven days , the written response should explain who investigated the complaint, what staff did to investigate it, and what conclusions were reached. If the investigation has not been completed yet, the written notice should explain this and let the patient know what the next steps are in the process, including potential date for completion of the investigation. The patient should ultimately receive the information about who investigated, what the investigation involved, and what the conclusions are. Written response may also include the contact information for the relevant state authority where the patient may send a future complaint about the same issue. A patient can file a complaint to the oversight agencies listed on pages 21-23 of this publication.

What is the right to be free from abuse, neglect, and harassment?

1. Right to be free from abuse, neglect and harassment#N#A patient has the right to receive care in a safe environment and be free from all forms of abuse, neglect, and harassment.

How does a patient's level affect the patient?

A patient’s level can affect many things. For example, as a patient’s level increases , he or she may get permission to visit additional places in the hospital or go on outings into the community at large. A patient also can get increased access to personal items , such as radios and televisions. A patient can move up and down levels based on changes in his or her treatment needs. If a patient disagrees with his or her level, there are several options available. These options are outlined in Section II below.

How many patients did Western State Hospital have in 1940?

By the 1940s, Western State Hospital had become overcrowded. It was designed for 2,000 patients but held nearly 3,000. Only over a dozen doctors and 40 nurses tended to the patients. There were stories of violence, abuse, and horrifying experiments. Ice baths, straight jackets, sexual abuse, and outright torture were reported by many former patients of Western State.

What happened to the patients at Fort Steilacoom?

Despite being rather nice on the outside, the patients at Fort Steilacoom were subjected to horrifying abuses. The patients were neglected, abused, and locked away with no outside contact, sometimes for several months. Sanitation was lacking, and rats and diseases were rampant. In 1875, the Washington territorial government took control of Fort Steilacoom from the Army after stories of the abuse went public. The building was knocked down in 1886, and a more modern facility was built. It was renamed Western State Hospital. But the ruins of the old Fort Steilacoom Asylum lie not too far away.

Where are ghosts found in Washington State?

Washington is known for its endless forests, dreary weather, and massive mountains. It’s hardly a place where one would find ghosts…right? Most of us expect to find Bigfoot before we see a real-life poltergeist, but lo and behold, haunts are everywhere in Washington State. Northern State Mental Hospital is one of the counterparts to Western State and shares many of the same stories of abuse and terrifying experiments. Part of the hospital is abandoned, and many say they’ve seen the ghost of a man and a young girl running through the vacant building. The Black Diamond Cemetery near Enumclaw is the final resting place for hundreds of coal miners, and their ghosts are still kicking. The strange lights seen in the graveyard at night are said to be the lanterns of the miners, and a phantom horse has been seen walking through the cemetery on multiple occasions. The Tokeland Hotel in Toke Point is a great spot to rest after catching clams on the coast, but the hotel is haunted by a friendly ghost named Charlie. He’s nice, but he occasionally steals from the guests. Want to see more Washington State haunts? Check out the top ten most haunted spots in the Evergreen State right here!

What was the worst medical experiment?

Lobotomies were the worst and most brutal of the medical experiments performed at Western State. Patients would have a small hole drilled into their heads, and doctors would sever the nerves they believed were causing mental illness. The procedure never worked, and patients were often left with severe brain damage. Those lucky enough to survive or not end up in a vegetative state were left emotionally blunted. Some were incapable of functioning normally. Many who underwent lobotomies died years later due to complications.

What was Western State known for?

Like many asylums, Western State was known for its terrifying and inhumane medical procedures. Electroshock therapy, insulin therapy, and lobotomies were all routinely performed at the hospital. The doctors employed these methods in an attempt to control, or “cure,” patients. They claimed the procedures could cure all sorts of disorders and maladies, from emotional distress to schizophrenia. They hardly cured anything and usually left the patients much worse than before.

Is the asylum graveyard haunted?

The asylum graveyard is also said to be haunted. Over 3,200 people were buried onsite between 1876 and 1953. Their graves were never marked with names, just their patient numbers. Many have seen strange apparitions moving around the graveyard at night. Bloodcurdling screams have also been reported around the graveyard.

Was Western State Hospital an upgrade from Fort Steilacoom?

Western State Hospital was definitely an upgrade from Fort Steilacoom, but the abuses continued. Many were involuntarily committed, being labeled insane despite having no actual mental disorders. Just like today, their assets were seized and put in the hands of a “guardian,” who was court-appointed. Sometimes, people were committed by close friends or relatives who just wanted to get ahold of their riches.