Kings County Hospital is undergoing improvements mandated by a consent decree that is intended to settle litigation stemming from the death of a patient in the waiting room of a psychiatric ward.
According to a report on WCAX.com, the lawsuit claims the psychiatric inpatient units were overcrowded and unsanitary. The suit also claims patients were ignored and abused, and calls for 5-year watch of NYC hospital.
On June 19, 2008, psychiatric patient Esmin Green, 49, collapsed in the waiting room after waiting 24 hours for treatment. Green was not helped by hospital staff members after her collapse. During the incident, which was documented by a security camera, two hospital security officers and one member of the medical staff looked at Green briefly before walking away.
Green’s family received $2 million to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit against the city of Brooklyn.
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Read the DOJ press release on this matter.
