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Tampa General Sued Over Psychiatric Ward Suicide

Tampa General Hospital

The lawsuit contends the hospital failed to properly monitor psychiatric patients.

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 5, 2009

TAMPA - The family of a 28-year-old man who committed suicide in the psychiatric ward of Tampa General Hospital sued the hospital and its chief executive officer today, claiming their negligence led to the death.

Kathleen Murphy sued on behalf of the estate of her son Brian Keith Murphy, who hanged himself July 24, just days after a 44-year-old woman committed suicide in the same room.

Murphy used a bed sheet tied to a bathroom door. Annette Howard hanged herself with a sheet tied to a closet door.

The lawsuit contends the hospital failed to properly monitor psychiatric patients, replace doors in the rooms with safer ones and provide adequate staff to supervise patients.

Murphy sued TGH's corporate parent, Florida Health Sciences Center Inc., and its chief officer Ronald Hytoff.

Hospital spokesman John Dunn had no immediate comment.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, working with the state Agency for Health Care Administration, issued a scathing 44-page report in August detailing shortcomings at the psychiatric ward.

According to the report, staff members apparently failed to check on patients every 15 minutes, patients had easy access to a closet where chemicals were stored, and staff did not re-evaluate patients for suicidal thoughts.

The report threatened the hospital's Medicare funding, which was $168.4 million in 2007.

The hospital submitted an 85-page corrective action plan that included: removing closet and bathroom doors; installing video monitors in all patient rooms, dining rooms, the television area and group therapy rooms; and increased nurse monitoring of patients.

The federal agency in September approved the hospital's plans to improve patient safety.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 259-7698.

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