Lawsuit Accuses Montana State Psychiatric Hospital of Negligence Leading to Patient Deaths

Federal lawsuit points to systematic abuses, understaffing, lack of training, and a disregard for patients' rights as contributing to patient deaths, and halting of federal funding.

The lawsuit alleges that Montana State Psychiatric Hospital has been poorly run for decades resulting in the deaths of two patients, Lucio DiMauro and David Patzoldt, due to understaffing, lack of training and neglect.
It is claimed that the hospital violated state laws and patients' constitutional rights to dignity and due process, including requirements to provide adequate supervision, medical treatment, and a humane, safe, comfortable environment.
Governor Greg Gianforte, the director of the Department of Public Health and Human Services, the director of the state hospital, and the state with its health department have been named in the lawsuit, which holds them accountable for systemic abuse and neglect.
Specific cases illustrate the alleged negligence: DiMauro, suffering from a traumatic brain injury, was reportedly overmedicated and mismanaged, while Patzoldt, with numerous health and mental problems, was denied crucial medication and subsequently died from sepsis, COVID pneumonia and cellulitis.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ceased funding the hospital due to repeated patient endangerment, citing understaffing and failure to correct recurring problems. As a result, at least four patient deaths, a severe assault and a COVID-19 outbreak were not adequately dealt with.