A Maryland psychiatric hospital is under investigation following a patient who suffered a brain bleed after being allegedly attacked by two other patients, The Washington Post reported Dec. 31.
The incident occurred at the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center, the state's 289-bed maximum security psychiatric hospital. The victim was allegedly attacked by Eric King, 27, and Eric Gemmill, 31. Authorities claim the two men beat the victim for about 75 seconds before security staff and nurses intervened. The victim was then rushed to the Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. He was hospitalized in critical condition and has suffered neurological deficits including uncontrollable hand tremors and impeded speech, state police investigators said.
"The Department received notice of the incident as protocol required, and the Secretary was contacted in real to near time," the Maryland Health Department said in a statement shared with Becker's. "The Maryland Department of Health is investigating this incident, which includes reviewing both the clinical and security responses to the event. The Department is committed to protecting all patients in state facilities, as well as the staff who care for them. We are including a presentation to lawmakers that covers the Department's response to needs at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center."
Mr. King and Mr. Gemmill were both admitted to the hospital after being charged with felonies for violent crimes and being found incompetent to stand trial. Both men were deemed a possible danger to others before the alleged attack and were assigned one-on-one nursing attendants to supervise them. Those staffers were supposed to be within 10 feet of the patients, but it is unclear where they were at the time of the incident.
The hospital has been facing increased scrutiny since October when a Post report showed state and hospital leaders had ignored complaints of violence and inadequate staffing for years. The report prompted an ongoing, external review of the hospital by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, third-party evaluators who were hired by the state's Department of Health Secretary Laura Scott, MD. The alleged beating occurred in the final weeks before the audit was completed at the end of the year.
Mr. King and Mr. Grimmell have been charged with felonies related to the beating.