Commissioner: Western State must transfer mental-health patient
Wednesday, Sep 03, 2008 – 06:53 PM
The state’s mental health commissioner today ordered administrators at Western State Hospital to develop a plan to transfer a longtime mental patient from Western State to another facility.
Cesar Chumil, now 58, has been held in some form of seclusion or restraints at the Staunton hospital since February 1986.
But Commissioner James S. Reinhard did not specifically order Chumil moved closer to his relatives in Northern Virginia, a key objective of the Guatamala native’s family and legal team.
Reinhard called Chumil a unique patient who has demanded unusual resources but he said the hospital must take steps to employ Spanish-speaking caregivers, rigorously monitor Chumil’s care, and develop a plan to transfer him to another facility.
– Bill McKelway
