Forced Medications, Physical Restraints Are a Reality of Psychiatric and Juvenile Institutions
By injuheis on August 13, 2010
Disability Rights New Jersey, a patient rights organization, has filed suit in federal court alleging that New Jersey psychiatric hospitals consistently medicate patients against their will.
Believe it or not, New Jersey law only permits a psychiatric patient to appeal medication decisions to administrators at the hospital where they are confined. Most other states provide patients the right to appeal to the court system or decision- makers outside of the hospital. The lawsuit seeks to bring the state of New Jersey in the line with these other states.
New Jersey’s law allowing psychiatric hospitals to forcibly medicate patients is just one example of the dangers that lurk inside psychiatric and juvenile facilities across the United States. Another common place practice inside mental and juvenile institutions and boot camps is forced physical restraints on patients.
Forced physical restraints on individuals that are institutionalized often result in serious injury or death. Isaiah Simmons died on January 23, 2006 when the 17 year old was physically restrained by seven counselors for over three hours at a Maryland juvenile facility. Simmons was placed in a prone restraint and struggled to breathe before expiring due to cardiac arrest. Another youth, Martin Lee Anderson was killed at a Florida juvenile boot camp several years ago when he was beaten and kicked by several employees who forced him to inhale ammonia. He died of suffocation.
A psychiatric patient at Bridge Water Hospital in Massachusetts died in 2009 as a result of injuries he sustained when being placed in a four point restraint by facility employees. Joshua Messier’s death was ruled a homicide due to “blunt impact of the head and compression of the chest.”
Experts say that there are better and safer ways to control patients and students without resorting to forced physical restraints. Patients and students are needlessly injured and killed as a result. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a Maryland juvenile facility restraint injury or a Maryland psychiatric hospital restraint injury, please contact Maryland Psychiatric Hospital Restraint Injury Lawyer Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer”. Heisler has worked tirelessly on behalf of restraint injury victims and can help. Call 877-228-Hurt (4878) to learn more information on Maryland physical restraint injuries and your legal rights.
