Dr. El-Sabaawi/UAPD Issue: Response by DMH, US DOJ, and CA Medical Board
Background
The California Department of Mental Health (DMH) currently operates five state hospitals that provide inpatient psychiatric care to nearly five thousand individuals committed to the hospitals civilly or in connection with criminal proceedings. Two facilities are located in southern California (Metropolitan State Hospital in Los Angeles County and Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino County), one facility near the central coast (Atascadero State Hospital) and one in northern California (Napa State Hospital). A fifth facility, Coalinga State Hospital in the central valley, opened its doors in September 2005. Please use the links below for additional information about each state hospital:
On May 2, 2006, the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) and the State of California reached a settlement concerning civil rights violations at four California State Hospitals: Metropolitan State Hospital, Napa State Hospital, Patton State Hospital; and Atascadero State Hospital. The extensive reforms required by the five-year Consent Judgment will ensure that individuals in the hospitals are adequately protected from harm and provided adequate services to support their recovery and mental health.
The USDOJ conducted its investigation pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act of 1980 (CRIPA). This statute allows the federal government to identify and root out systemic irregularities such as those identified in this case, rather than focus on individual civil rights violations. The State is now addressing and correcting the agreed upon violations identified by the USDOJ.
- May 2, 2006 Press Release: State Department of Mental Health, United States Department of Justice Agree on Enhancement Plan for State Hospitals
- Consent Judgment
The Consent Judgment, which is operationalized as the Enhancement Plan at the state hospitals, contains requirements for bi-annual reviews of progress towards compliance be conducted at each of the four impacted hospitals. (Coalinga State Hospital was not open at the time of the initial investigations so is not a party to the Judgment.) These reviews are conducted by a court appointed monitor and a team of clinical experts.
CURRENT STATUS
Atascadero, Napa, Patton, and Metropolitan State Hospital continue to note improvements during each review completed by the Court Monitor and his team of experts. Each hospital has adopted the Recovery Model; the belief that individuals with a mental illness can recover and lead meaningful lives, and put in place the structures to support this model of treatment and service delivery.
The DMH is committed to the implementation of the Enhancement Plan within the specified time frames and continues diligent efforts to achieve this goal.
If you have accessibility issues with this report, hardcopies are available. Please email Ameera Kidane or call (916) 651-3926
| Reports | Site Visit Date |
|---|---|
| Atascadero State Hospital | February 2011  August 2010 February 2010 August 2009 February 2009 September 2008 April 2008 September 2007 April 2007 November 2006
|
| Metropolitan State Hospital | July 2011 January 2011 July 2010 January 2010 July 2009 January 2009 September 2008 March 2008 August 2007 February 2007 September 2006 |
| Napa State Hospital | May 2011 November 2010 May 2010 December 2009 July 2009 December 2008 July 2008 January 2008 July 2007 December 2006 July 2006 |
| Patton State Hospital | April 2011 October 2010 April 2010 December 2009 April 2009 November 2008 June 2008 November 2007 May 2007 November 2006 |