Huge Task Ahead For State Hospital Oversight Group

HEALTH 

By Chris Lehman

Salem, OR  February 1, 2008 1:44 p.m.

Officials in Oregon are trying to hold off a federal lawsuit over the way the state runs its mental hospital.

A Department of Justice investigation revealed widespread problems at the Salem facility.  Patients weren’t supervised adequately and medications were doled out improperly, among other things.

A legislative oversight committee met for the first time Friday.  State Representative Diane Rosenbaum says the panel will have to come up with solutions, and do it quickly.

Diane Rosenbaum:  “We don’t have a choice here.  It’s not like it’s optional for us to just create a nice group that will talk about this.  We have to solve this problem or it will be taken out of our hands.”

That’s because as part of the lawsuit, the federal government could take control of the hospital.  State officials say that shouldn’t happen as long as the state cooperates with the feds, and comes up with an improvement plan soon.

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© 2008 OPB