Group looking into patient’s death sues Arizona State Hospital over access

PHOENIX – An advocacy group looking into a patient’s death at the Arizona State Hospital filed a lawsuit Wednesday alleging its access has been restricted.

The Arizona Center for Disability Law is suing the Phoenix hospital, which provides psychiatric care to Arizonans under court orders for treatment, and the Arizona Department of Health Services.

In a news release, the nonprofit group said it’s been denied access to records related to a patient’s death in the hospital.

The ACDL is a federally designated Protection and Advocacy System for Arizona. The group said it is required to monitor facilities for abuse and neglect under the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act.

“If the Arizona State Hospital can choose which of their residents ACDL can speak to, listen in on our conversations, limit our access to the places and people they want us to see, then no one will ever know what’s happening to the people we cannot see behind the doors,” attorney Chris Carlsen said in the release.

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