The Department of Mental Health is investigating a death reported last week(Dec.2)at the Hawthorn Children’s Psychiatric Hospital in St. Louis. According to the hospital, the 16-year-old female patient was observed to be choking and the staff administered emergency medical care. Emergency Medical Services was contacted as was local law enforcement. EMS transported the patient to St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The death was reported at the hospital about 8 p.m. The Medical Examiner reported the patient choked on a plastic medicine cup which was folded in half.
“This tragic event will be investigated carefully to determine what happened and any additional preventive measures that might be implemented in the future,” said Keith Schafer, Director of the Department of Mental Health. “The staff at Hawthorn is devastated with the loss of this child. We are providing support to staff and patients in dealing with this tragedy.”
Hawthorn provides acute and residential psychiatric care for children and youth and operates 52 beds. The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare organizations and is certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.