PASADENA – The state is investigating three deaths and a rape that occurred this year at a Pasadena psychiatric hospital featured on the VH1 show “Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew,” records show.
The state’s report charges that Aurora Las Encinas hospital, at 2900 E. Del Mar Blvd., did not properly conduct routine checks on a patient who overdosed on drugs in the facility in April. A hospital employee was fired as a result of the incident.
Another patient who died from a drug overdose the same month has spurred a Pasadena police investigation into whether another patient gave him drugs that he smuggled into the hospital, according to Sgt. Cheryl Moody of the Pasadena police department.
A third patient hung himself on the hospital’s grounds earlier this month, and a 16-year-old male at the facility was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a female patient this month as well.
A spokesperson for UnitedHealth Group, the nation’s second largest health insurer, told the Los Angeles Times that it has suspended referrals to the hospital while it conducts an investigation of the hospital. The Times originally broke the story on Thursday morning.
Dr. Drew Pinsky, the doctor who treated celebrities at the facility as part of VH1’s show released a statement to the Times indicating that he was not personally involved in the care of any of the patients. In addition to appearing on “Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew,” Pinsky co-hosts the syndicated radio show “Loveline”
(c) 2008 San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
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