Saturday, August 02, 2003

Suicides at Napa State Hospital

Napa State Hospital is licensed as an acute psychiatric care hospital in California and provides acute psychiatric, skilled nursing, intermediate, and outpatient services

Authorities are investigating two suicides at Napa State Hospital that occurred on the same ward. Autopsies revealed the men died from hanging, according to sheriff's Captain Gene Lyerla . The deaths happened at the Q 1 and 2 ward in the hospital. Hospital spokeswoman Lupe Rincon said in both suicides, the men were seen alive and well by staff within 15 to 30 minutes before their deaths.

Several unnatural deaths at Napa State Hospital in recent years raise serious questions about the quality of care at the hospital. But families who have protested the deaths of their sons, or sued the hospital in federal and state courts, have found little relief.

No comments: