SOCIAL JUSTICE BLOG

Read and share extraordinary stories from the frontlines of social change

Combatting COVID-19 In Psychiatric Hospitals: When The Only Thing You Can Do Is Go To Court
COVID-19, Psychiatric Hospitals Teddy Basham-Witherington COVID-19, Psychiatric Hospitals Teddy Basham-Witherington

Combatting COVID-19 In Psychiatric Hospitals: When The Only Thing You Can Do Is Go To Court

Some might ask what business civil rights lawyers had bringing litigation against the state when the entire world was trying to contend with a novel coronavirus. My response is this: our clients, afraid of dying, called us and asked us to help. We approached the state on behalf of our clients asking them to change their ordinary course of business when the first positive tests were announced. When the Department announced the first death of a patient in its custody, the press release included their “thoughts and prayers.” Our clients needed more: they needed infection control and prevention, including PPE used properly; they needed reduction in census so that social distancing measures could be implemented; they needed isolation and quarantine protocols.

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Psych Patients In Connecticut File Class Action For Civil Rights Violations
Olmstead, Disability Rights, Class Actions Teddy Basham-Witherington Olmstead, Disability Rights, Class Actions Teddy Basham-Witherington

Psych Patients In Connecticut File Class Action For Civil Rights Violations

Karen testified:  “When I was getting discharged from Connecticut Valley Hospital, there were money and staffing problems that delayed me from getting out. Hospital staff were worried that there wasn’t enough money to get me the staffing that would keep me safe.... On the Thursday I was supposed to be discharged, staff were telling me I would be back by the next Monday.”

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