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Federal judge dings OHA, OSH over failure to quickly admit aid-and-assist patients
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Federal officials have penalized Oregon health leaders for 'failing to protect' members of the public.
On Friday, Marion County reported that U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson hit the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon State Hospital with a 'contempt finding' after determining they had violated the U.S. Constitution. The two agencies will also be forced to pay fines.
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Disability Rights of Oregon alleged the state failed to adhere to a permanent injunction from 2003 that requires OSH to admit defendants within seven days after authorities determine they are unfit to stand trial. DRO claimed several 'aid-and-assist patients' have been held in jail for up to 50 days, and at least two individuals died while waiting to be transported to the state hospital.
Both the Salem psychiatric facility and the agency behind it have been under fire for years now. Earlier in March, OHA announced the Joint Commission preliminarily stripped the hospital of its accreditation after a to the health and safety of patients.
OSH has also been placed in immediate jeopardy status several times. And according to DRO, Judge Nelson said the state has been 'persistently out of compliance' with the longstanding permanent injunction.
County officials have highlighted the public health agency's 2024 report, which found it was in need of hundreds of new behavioral health treatment beds.
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'Marion County applauds these fines designed to force Oregon State Hospital to finally get serious about providing the desperately needed mental health care that Oregon law requires and that is needed to protect public safety,' Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell said in a statement.
KOIN 6 has reached out to OHA for comment.
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