Spokane7
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October 2, 2009 in City
Field trip violated hospital policies, report says
DSHS Secretary Susan Dreyfus, left, listens to Mental Health Systems Director Richard Kellogg as they give a press briefing Friday Oct. 2, 2009, on the findings of the investigation into the escape of Phillip A. Paul. (CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON chrisa@spokesman.com)
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
Eastern State Hospital staff members escorting a field trip to the Spokane County Interstate Fair asked administrators two times to call 911 when Phillip A. Paul escaped from the group last month, and were told not to, according to an early investigation of the incident.
Staff members also were told not to return to the hospital, according to a report prepared by the state’s Department of Social and Health Services.
Both actions were “significant breakdowns in decision-making within the hospital,” Richard Kellogg, director of mental health systems at DSHS, said at a press conference in Spokane today.
A dozen people in the hospital knew Paul had escaped but failed to report it, the investigation found.
The state has named an independent panel, including Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, to review the evaluation process that allowed Paul to go on the field trip and the failure to report his escape, DSHS Secretary Susan Dreyfus said at the press conference.
The other members include:
• Richard Veith, M.D., Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington Medical School (Chair);
• Barbara Bate, president, Washington Chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness;
• Christina Beusch, deputy attorney general;
• John Chiles, M.D., University of Washington professor, psychiatrist and medical director for Western State Hospital;
• Bret Farrar, Lakewood police chief;
• Scott Frakes, Superintendent of the Monroe Correctional Complex for the Department of Corrections;
• and Dan Satterberg, King County prosecutor.
KHQ video
Rights panel poorly understood 
Ron_the_Cop on October 02 at 6:45 p.m.
I’ve just scanned the report. What a CYA piece. Middle management is covering for themselves e.g., staff didn’t follow policy to immediately call 911. I wonder why? :-)
dkerns on October 02 at 10:32 p.m.
This could be why Hal Wilson took off so quickly. He always operated better when things didn’t come to light.
Rifleman__Dodd on October 02 at 11:56 p.m.
When not a single one of the “12 who knew” had the presence of mind to call 911… tells me a lot about the moral culture of lack of initiative or moral integrity at DSHS. I wonder if they are working their way up to going to the bathroom w/out getting permission before hand.
Ron_the_Cop on October 03 at 12:37 a.m.
I’ve just scanned the report. What a CYA piece. Middle management is covering for themselves e.g., staff didn’t follow policy to immediately call 911. I wonder why? :-)