South Carolina Mental Health Department Drops Plans to Release 100 State Hospital Patients By June

South Carolina's Department of Mental Health has dropped plans to release 100 hospitalized psychiatric patients by June after a patient review committee found the goal was "an unreasonable 'quota,'" the Columbia State reports. The review committee, formed in February to determine whether patients were prepared to leave the S.C. State Hospital, voted against the plan. The State Law Enforcement Division is also investigating allegations that patients were released to meet budget cut demands, spurred by allegations by the hospital's chief psychologist, Dr. Jack Luadzers, that "rapists, murderers and other potentially dangerous patients were being prematurely released." In addition, state Sen. William Branton (R) is expected to introduce a "concurrent resolution" that would stop the release of "potentially dangerous patients" until the conclusion of the investigation. However, John Hutto, spokesperson for the mental health agency, said, "We discharge people only when they're clinically ready and only with the support services in the community" (Winiarski, Columbia State, 5/23). In addition to dropping the discharge plans, the hospital is reopening a ward at the hospital to create space for patients currently at other facilities. State Hospital implemented a formal policy to stop admitting patients in February 2000. Hutto said the ward reopening is unrelated to the investigation, adding, "This is a change in State Hospital policy that is positive for patients and the community" (AP/Charleston Post and Courier, 5/22).