Missouri hospital worker "troubled" by death of mentally ill patient

The Missouri Department of Mental Health is investigating the death of Timothy Davis at DePaul Health Center, a privately run facility in Bridgeton Missouri.

On January 8, Jessie Thompson, another mentally disabled man, died in a private facility, shortly after taking a shower.

The death occurs at a time when family members are calling for publicly run habitation centers for the mentally ill to remain open.

Betty Coll, a longtime advocate for the mentally disabled, wrote a letter to Dorn Schuffman, Director Missouri Department of Mental Health, in which she asked 9 questions, which included :

• Why is this happening?
• Where is the evidence this will save money?

But critics of the department say Ms. Coll's questions were never adequately answered.


see comments of Betty Coll

http://www.vor.net/Sept72007.htm


References
(1) Tuft, Carolyn. "Feds' inquiry in Ga. mental hospitals could take months." St Louis Post-Dispatch 01 February 2008. 12 February 2008 <http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/37F4429B868A2C07862573E20002B2AE?OpenDocument>.