NEW YORK – A psychiatric patient left unattended at King’s County Hospital collapsed to her death June 19. This incident comes after three organizations filed a federal lawsuit against the facility, citing it as “inhumane.”
A surveillance camera at the hospital captured the death of Esmin Green, 49, a patient who was involuntarily admitted into the psychiatric ward for agitation and psychosis the day before. At 5:32 a.m., the footage captures Green standing in the hospital waiting room collapsing on her face. As an hour passes, hospital security and staff enter and exit the room. By 6:36 a.m., someone took notice of the victim; however, by that time, she was already deceased.
Officials for the hospital said six employees are facing disciplinary action for failing to respond to the ailing patient. Two of the employees have already been terminated from their positions, while the remaining four must go through termination proceedings because they are unionized.
Hospital administrators plan to expand space in the waiting room and add more staff to combat overcrowding. Additionally, officials said patients in the psychiatric emergency unit will be checked every 15 minutes.
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