ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 3, 1997 TAG: 9704030012
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: PETERSBURG
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
The agency is looking into possible violation of a law that protects hospitalized people from excessive use of restraints.
The U.S. Justice Department has moved from a preliminary review of complaints to a full-fledged investigation of a state-run mental hospital where two patients died strapped to their beds.
Gloria Huntley was found dead at Central State Hospital on June 29, 1996, her arms and legs held down by leather belts. In the final month of her life, the 31-year-old woman was placed in solitary confinement and strapped spread-eagled on her back for 300 hours, including two separate stretches of 4 1/2 days straight.
Another patient, Derrick Wilson, died in restraints at Central State in 1993.
Justice Department spokes- woman Lee Douglass said Wednesday that the agency notified the state last week that an investigation was under way.
Douglass said investigators will visit Central State and may interview hospital officials, staff and patients about patient treatment and care. She declined to provide more details. But the agency told The Associated Press earlier that it was looking into possible violation of a law that protects institutionalized people from excessive use of restraints.
The Justice Department could take the state to court if it does not correct any violations found at the mental hospital.
But that scenario is unlikely, said Don Harrison, a spokesman for Virginia Attorney General Jim Gilmore.
Earlier this week, Harrison said the state is considering spending millions of dollars to improve Central State. Dr. Christopher Jenkins, Central State medical director, said Tuesday that the hospital is hiring more doctors.
Central State isn't the only state mental institution to be scrutinized by the Justice Department in recent years.
After the federal agency filed lawsuits, the state agreed in July to improve conditions at Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg and the Northern Virginia Training Center in Fairfax County.
The Virginia Alliance for the Mentally Ill, an advocacy group for families affected by mental illness, for years has accused Central State of violating patients' rights. The alliance also complained to the Justice Department about the treatment of Huntley and Wilson.
``We are very sad that it is necessary, but we are relieved that a formal investigation is going to take place,'' said Valerie Marsh, executive director of the alliance.
The main problem at Central State is a shortage of physicians and nurses and well-trained mental health aides, Marsh said.
Huntley's family also complained to the federal agency.
``I'm glad that they are finally doing something and going somewhere, and it's not just paper sitting on everybody's desk,'' said Paige Griggs of Richmond, Huntley's sister-in-law.
Huntley's attending physician, in a protest to Central State officials, warned a year before her death that she could die in restraints because she suffered from asthma, epileptic seizures and heart problems.
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