NCJ Number
60330
Journal
BULLETIN MEDICINE LEGALE TOXICOLOGIE Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: (MARCH/APRIL 1979) Pages: 137-146
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
RECENT FIRES AND VIOLENT INCIDENTS IN FRENCH PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTIONS ARE SURVEYED, AND THE SERIES OF CONFLAGRATIONS AT ST. ANNE'S HOSPITAL IN FRANCE IS STUDIED IN DETAIL.
Abstract
THE FRENCH PRESS REPORTS WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY OF CONFLAGRATIONS IN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS CAUSING LOSS OF LIFE AND ENORMOUS MATERIAL DAMAGE. IN ORDER TO DOCUMENT THE NEGLIGENCE OF AUTHORITIES AND PERSONNEL IN SUCH INSTITUTIONS, A FORMER ST. ANNE'S HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR'S EXPERIENCES FROM 1960 TO 1976 ARE REPORTED. ALARMED BY THE FIRE HAZARD RESULTING FROM PATIENT AND PERSONNEL SMOKING, THE ADMINISTRATOR HAD REQUESTED CHANGES THROUGH MEMOS, THROUGH LETTERS TO DISTRICT AND GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES, AND THROUGH THE REFUSAL TO AUTHORIZE REPLACING MATERIAL DESTROYED BY FIRE. WHEN HIS EFFORTS REMAINED UNSUCCESSFUL, HE ASKED THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN A LETTER TO ENFORCE THE FIRE REGULATIONS AT THE HOSPITAL. ALTHOUGH THE ATTORNEY ISSUED A STRICT BAN ON INTRODUCING TOBACCO ITEMS INTO THE BUILDING, THE PERSONNEL CONTINUED TO SMOKE, WITH IMPUNITY. TWO SERIOUS FIRES IN 1978 AND 1979 FINALLY CONFIRMED THE VALIDITY OF EARLIER WARNINGS. ASIDE FROM THE FIRES, VIOLENT INCIDENTS SUCH AS MURDER AND SUICIDES SHOWED THE LACK OF REGULATIONS AND PREVENTIVE CARE AT ST. ANNE'S. THE FAILURE TO PUNISH PERSONNEL NOT ADHERING TO REGULATIONS IS THE LEADING CAUSE FOR THE CONTINUED NEGLIGENCE WHICH JEOPARDIZES THE LIVES OF DEFENSELESS PATIENTS. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS NO REFERENCES. --IN FRENCH. (SAJ)