ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, April 19, 1997               TAG: 9704210065
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-3  EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: RICHMOND

FORENSIC UNIT HAS NEW CHIEF RESTRAINED PATIENT'S DEATH IN HOSPITAL INVESTIGATED

The state mental health department has assigned its top psychiatrist to fix problems at the Central State Hospital unit where patient Gloria Huntley died last June.

Dr. Harold Carmel, director of medical affairs for the agency, is assuming control of the Forensic Unit two weeks before U.S. Justice Department lawyers and consultants visit the unit and other Central State operations.

The Justice Department is looking into possible excessive use of restraints and reports of patient abuse.

Huntley died alone in a Forensic Unit seclusion room on June 29, 1996, her arms and legs held down by leather belts as permitted under her treatment plan. Another patient, Derrick Wilson, died in restraints in 1993 in another Central State unit.

State mental health commissioner Timothy A. Kelly acknowledged that Carmel's temporary assignment was related to the Justice Department investigation. But he said it also was part of his agency's ``commitment and desire to do whatever we can to improve conditions in the Forensic Unit.''

-ASSOCIATED PRESS

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