Patient Dies Waiting for Bed at Kings County Hospital
CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn — A 49-year-old mental patient waiting for a bed in Kings County Hospital fell out of a chair and died an hour before anyone came to check on her, the Health and Hospitals Corp. said Friday.
HHC President Alan Aviles ordered the suspension or termination of six hospital employees involved in Thursday’s “serious incident.”
They included staff directly responsible for the patient’s care as well as managers of security and clinical services.
Aviles said the death was “under further review” and has been reported to health oversight agencies and law enforcement authorities.
HHC said the unidentified woman was brought to the hospital’s Psychiatric Emergency Department on Wednesday morning suffering from “agitation and psychosis.” She refused medical review but was involuntarily admitted.
She was put in a chair early Thursday to wait for a bed to become available in the inpatient unit. A preliminary investigation determined the woman fell from the chair to the floor and stayed there for an hour before she got any medical attention, HHC said. She was unresponsive when help came. The agency did not give the cause of death.
A hospital source said last night that new patients are supposed to be checked every 30 minutes.
“We all are shocked and distressed by this situation,” Aviles said in a statement. “We express our deep regrets to the patient’s family and will ensure a thorough investigation to answer any questions that remain.”
ceo
I heard someone say that about 15 yrs ago they were saying that people should not enter the hospital without an advocate.
how sad our system is.
talkin gfrom experience
That is why when a loved one is admitted in the hospital NEVER LEAVE THEM ALONE!!! Take turns with other fam memebers or even hired trust-worthy help in JUST STAYING BY THEIR SIDE 24/7!! This could happen in ANY hospital!
Jean Folkes
I am not at all surprised that this happened. I have had an awful esperience at that hospital when my grandson was a patient here. My grandson did not want to stay and when he held the door ajar and pleading with me to take him home and orderlie threatened to break his foot off. I found 75% of the staff to be unprofessional and uncaring. I think society on a whole needs to be educated on mental illness. The mentally ill are treated like the scu of the earth. It’s ok to have cancer or heart disease but mental illness, you are just plain “CRAZY”. I think this is a prison setting rather than a hospital setting. We need caring profesionals to take care of the ill not people just trying to make a $$$$$$.
D.G. Wilson
I lost all trust and confidence in this hospital when 4 1/2 years ago my mother-in-law was brought there after being involved in what turn out to be a fatal car accident (because she died at KCHC), ALL of her jewerly was stolen off of her body. No one logged in her personal belongings and no one knew what happen to all of her jewerly. How sad is that? Stealing from a corpse!
Dolores
When does complaining become actionable?
Kings County has had a horrible and frightening reputation for years!!!
My mom was a patient there many many years ago and it had a bad reputation then and she would BEG not to be admitted there! The problem has to be resolved; not just a temporary fix.
This is “shameful ”and not only should there be a lawsuit but the responsible parties should be brought on criminal charges.
My condolences to this womens family!!