Advocacy group calls for investigation of state offices in DeBrodie case
The Missouri Coalition for Quality Care is “a nonprofit advocacy organization for recipients of long-term-care,” according to its website.
The organization’s president, Dave Damico, sent a letter to the Missouri Governor’s Office Sunday asking for a thorough review of the Department of Mental Health and its division of developmental disabilities.
It comes after a motion by attorney general Josh Hawley’s office to dismiss state workers from the wrongful death lawsuit stemming from the Carl DeBrodie case.
“Our organization completely disagrees with the Attorney General’s assertion that Carl DeBrodie’s tragic death is a non-state issue,” said Damico. “The Department of Mental Health had total responsibility for the proper care of Carl DeBrodie.”
The wrongful death lawsuit named the state government, the directors of DMH and the division of developmental disabilities and several other state level officials.
The Coalition’s letter asks the Governor’s Office to get involved.
“We are requesting that your [Gov. Parson’s] office conduct an administrative review of the Department of Mental Health’s role in this horrendous and terrible tragedy,” the letter reads. “It is evident that policy, procedures, and possibly personnel need to be changed to ensure that incidents of this nature never happen again.”
The entire text of the MCQC letter to Parson is below:
Dear Governor Parsons:
Recently, Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley filed a motion to dismiss civil rights violation charges against several Department of Mental Health employees who were involved in the care of Carl DeBrodie. As you may know, Carl DeBrodie was found dead, encased in concrete, in a Fulton storage facility. DeBrodie was a resident of the Second Chance Group Home, which was licensed and certified by the Department of Mental Health. The Department of Mental Health employees were named in a lawsuit initiated by the family of Carl DeBrodie.
According to the Attorney General’s motion, the five DMH employees were not aware of any facts that could have led them to believe that DeBrodie was in any danger. The motion further states that DeBrodie was not in state custody and resided in a private facility. The Attorney General believes that the occurrence is a non-state issue and the employees should be protected by the qualified immunity doctrine.
The question about whether or not the DMH employees are protected by the qualified immunity doctrine will ultimately be decided by the courts. However, our organization completely disagrees with the Attorney General’s assertion that Carl DeBrodie’s tragic death is a non-state issue..The Department of Mental Health had total responsibility for the proper care of Carl DeBrodie. They maintained a contractual relationship with Second Chance Group Home, which included shelter, health, and general well-being. We assume that included funding from the Medicaid program.
Carl DeBrodie died because of someone’s negligence .Although other litigation and investigations are ongoing, we are requesting that your office conduct an administrative review of the Department of Mental Health’s role in this horrendous and terrible tragedy. It is evident that policy, procedures, and possibly personnel need to be changed to ensure that incidents of this nature never happen again. We would appreciate your attention to this matter.
Dave Damico
President
Missouri Coalition for Quality Care
P.O. Box 7165, Jefferson City, MO 65102
Full coverage of the case of Carl DeBrodie can be found through this link.
