May 19, 2013
CHATTAHOOCHEE, Fla. - June 3, 2012
In a new report, state mental health administrators say a northwest Florida facility was poorly equipped to care for a pregnant woman and ignored her pleas for help when she went into labor.
The woman at the Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee was eventually airlifted to Tallahassee. Her baby was born in December with profound brain damage.
In a report released Friday, the inspector general of Florida's Department of Children and Families faults hospital staff for not consistently documenting the woman's vital signs and lacking policies to ensure care for pregnant women.
DCF spokesman Joe Follick tells The Miami Herald that staffing has long been a problem at the hospital. Four employees were disciplined. Hospital Administrator Diane James was allowed to resign as planned.
A criminal investigation also continues.
