St. Charles Health System, (SCMC) does not follow Oregon State guidelines regarding restraint procedures. Restraint should only be used as a preventative for the safety of others including the patient. Proper training and adherence to state guidelines will lessen trauma to mental health patients seeking care at St. Charles Health System (SCMC).

 

ST CHARLES HEALTH SYSTEM PETITION TO ADHERE TO THE OREGON ADMINISTRATIVE RULES 309-112-0000.

 

TO GOVERNOR JOHN KITZHABER

 

ON BEHALF OF CONCERNED CITIZENS

 

I visited St Charles Health System in Bend Oregon (SCMC) after experiencing suicidal ideation. What happened to me there can only be described as outrageous and intolerable in a civilized community.  I was suffering from debilitating depression and my husband phoned 911 for medical help. When I arrived at St Charles Health System in Bend Oregon (SCMC), the staff actually refused to allow me additional time to remove my own clothing and held me down, both men and women and stripped off my clothing, leaving me nude and exposed. I was extremely humiliated and traumatized and felt violated when I felt someone touching my private body parts, including beneath my lower underwear. 

 

Not only did they strip me against my will when I was in no way resisting or aggressive toward anyone, but they later medicated me against my will after I was sitting quietly alone in my hospital room.  I know that this is hard to imagine, that trained healthcare professionals would behave in this manner, there must have been something that I did wrong. I must have prompted this outrageous behavior, right?  The answer is a resounding no.  I was guilty of being “uncooperative” because I did ask them for more time to remove my clothing and I did ask for their written policy regarding clothing restrictions.  I also asked for a patient representative or some neutral party to explain to me my patient rights. I was denied on all counts and then thrown down and physically assaulted by 8 to 10 men and women.

 

It is my firm belief that just because someone is mentally ill does not automatically take away the patient rights that every other patient being treated in a hospital has a right to enjoy.  Regardless of your diagnosis, it does not give St Charles Health System (SCMC) the right to treat patients like animals. Mentally ill patients are human beings and should be treated as such by St Charles Health System (SCMC).

 

          I have filed a lawsuit against Cascade Healthcare Community, Inc. dba St Charles Medical Center (SCMC).  Why have I done this? I feel that it is important for all Central Oregonians to speak up for those who may not be able to speak for themselves.  If we allow St Charles Health System (SCMC) to continue to ignore this very important issue, they will continue violating patient rights.

 

I am attempting to bring awareness to Central Oregonians who may be among the millions of people in the United States suffering from a mental illness.  Even if you yourself do not have a mental illness you may have a family member or friend who does and as such this issue is of crucial importance to you.

 

In doing my research for a pending lawsuit I have filed against St Charles Health System in Bend, Oregon I came across a little thing called the Oregon Administrative Rules.

 

A rule is defined by the Oregon Revised Statutes as “any agency directive, standard, regulation or statement of general applicability that implements, interprets or prescribes law or policy, or describes the procedure or practice requirements of any agency”.

 

In 1957, the Oregon Legislative Assembly directed that all agencies should compile and publish rules to be known as Oregon Administrative Rules by filing rules with the Secretary of State and notifying the Secretary when rules changed.

 

I was pleased but not shocked to discover that there are rules relating to patient restraint and the administration of involuntary medication as outlined in Oregon Administrative Rules 309-112-0000 through 309-112-0035.

 

OAR 309-112-0000 defines “Personal Restraint” as a procedure in which a patient or resident is placed in a prone or supine position or held in a chair by another person in order to restrict the physical movement of the patient or resident;

 

I was restrained twice by the employees of St Charles Health System (SCMC), once to remove my pajamas from my body and again 10 minutes later, against my will and without medical necessity to administer three involuntary injections of sedatives to my bare buttocks.

 

According to 309-112-0010 General Policies Concerning Use of Restraint; Restraint shall not be used except in emergencies, as provided in OAR 309-112-0015, or as part of planned treatment or training programs as provided in 309-112-0017, and only then subject to the conditions and limitations of these rules.  Additionally pursuant to this rule, medication will not be used as a restraint, but will be prescribed and administered according to acceptable medical, nursing, and pharmaceutical practices.

 

St Charles Health System (SCMC) violated OAR 309-112-0000 when they restrained me twice without medical necessity and denied me the right to the same civil rights as other patients at their facility not suffering from a mental illness. I understand that some patients may occasionally require restraint in emergency situations, but I did not meet the restraint requirements as outlined by Oregon State under Oregon’s Administrative Rules.  Additionally the three potent sedatives injected into my buttocks was not a medically necessary procedure and was also used for restraint purposes and to punish me for demanding that the staff adhere to my patient and civil rights by law.  The Physician noted in my chart that he prescribed the medication for “sleep” and “anxiety”.  However, if a patient is sitting quietly alone in a dark room and does not specifically ask to be violated by having their bare buttocks injected with highly potent sedatives; wouldn’t this cause them more anxiety?

 

How many other patients have they treated this way? How many other women besides me have they allowed to be molested by male employees during forcible stripping episodes?  How often does a mentally ill distraught patient get to fight back and demand that they are treated fairly, with dignity and respect and actually have someone listen to them?  How often is there a stigma placed in front of what the mentally ill person is attempting to describe to you about an event such as this. Do you believe them? Do you take them seriously? Say no to Stigma and unfair treatment of the mentally ill. Equal rights apply to the mentally ill, even at St. Charles Health System (SCMC) in Bend, Oregon.

 

I have drafted this petition with the hope that other patients will be spared the experience that I suffered through. No human being should be treated like an animal while under the care of Physicians, and without regard to their personal dignity, safety and Civil Rights. St. Charles Health System is the only hospital available to Central Oregonians located in Bend, Oregon, Prineville, Oregon, Redmond, Oregon, and Madras, Oregon.  Over 140,000 Oregon citizens depend on St Charles Medical Center (SCMC) for their medical care, this includes Psychiatric care. Shouldn’t they be required by law to take extra precaution when dealing with patients who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness? Shouldn’t St Charles Health System (SCMC) be required to follow the specific restraint requirements just like any other Oregon State hospital that are charged and licensed by the state of Oregon to treat mentally ill patients?  If you answer yes, then you agree with the relief sought in this Petition. Please sign this petition in favor of equal and fair treatment for mentally ill patients in Central Oregon.

 

Petitioning Governor John Kitzhaberto ask that he make private hospitals just as accountable as Oregon state hospitals in regard to restraint policies as described in OAR 309-112-000 is the only way to safeguard and protect all Central Oregonians who may find themselves in the hands of St Charles Health System (SCMC) staff in a moment of despair or other compromised state.

 

Thank you for your support in getting this important issue to the desk of Governor John Kitzhaber.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Minny Frank