Central Psychiatric Hospital 1 'did not know patient set up drug room'
Central Mental Hospital 1 explained that when checking patient Nguyen Xuan Quy's room, the doctor was prevented from doing drugs so "he did not know this was a place for drug use".
On the afternoon of April 1, Central Mental Hospital 1 (Hospital) reported on the incident of Nguyen Xuan Quy, 38 years old, setting up a roomdrugright in this facility.
On November 8, 2018, the Hospital received Quy from Thanh Tri District Police for treatment of mental illness. The Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry concluded that Quy had organic affective disorder. He was arranged to the Voluntary Treatment Department (K5) until September 2019 when he was transferred to the Department of Rehabilitation and Traditional Medicine.
Since December 2020, the Department of Rehabilitation and Traditional Medicine has been moved from its old location to its current headquarters. The new department is larger and cleaner, so Quy was assigned a room with another patient undergoing compulsory treatment.
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| The renovated ward area has been cleaned up. Photo:Pham Du |
In early February 2021, Quy took advantage of a day off when there was only staff on duty to arbitrarily divide the room in half for his own use. The doctor discovered it and asked him to remove it, but Quy said he wanted to divide it so he could be treated alone in peace. Because the room was large, the department head agreed.
"During the treatment, Quy used his own room and brought in equipment without the knowledge of the department head. Every time the doctor checked the room, Quy's emotions were unstable and he had many dangerous behaviors that hindered him. Quy then voluntarily went to the outside room so the doctor could examine him. Therefore, the department head did not know that the patient was storing and using drugs in the room," the report stated.
Afternoon of April 1, Quy's hospital room, about 20 m wide2, located in the middle of the treatment area, has been cleaned up. Many foam panels used for soundproofing in the room, opaque colored tapes on the glass doors..., have been removed. In the corner of the room, there are still some items used for drug use such as straws and torches. In the ceiling, there is a hole, which Quy made to install a laser light.
According to a doctor treating Quy, he had escaped a train accident that killed six people in Thuong Tin district in October 2016. Quy often talked and smiled to "create a friendly feeling" in times of emotional turmoil.
"However, if anyone did not comply, he would threaten them. Quy even knew the doctor's personal information, such as where he lived, what school his children went to... Sometimes, even without him threatening us, we were already terrified," the doctor said, adding that he also saw strangers come to visit Quy several times without knowing that they were people coming to buy drugs.
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| Drugs seized by police. Photo:Police provided |
Contrary to the hospital's report, the leader of the Hanoi Police Drug Police Department said that Quy's gang operated because the hospital was loosely managed and had the support of many employees. Hospital staff knew they were committing crimes but turned a blind eye and even gave Quy the keys to the treatment area so he could freely enter and exit. The police are investigating to determine the hospital staff's responsibility.
According to the investigation, Quy was the leader of an organized crime ring. He arbitrarily converted his hospital room into a soundproof room, installed large speakers, and laser lights to hide and use drugs. He and his subordinates also invited friends and hospital staff to the room to use drugs. Many times, he openly organized drug trafficking at the hospital.
Currently, Quy and four accomplices are being detained by Hanoi Police to investigate their crimes.Buying, Selling, StoringandOrganizing illegal use of drugs.
Nguyen Anh Vu, 35 years old, technician of the Department of Rehabilitation and Traditional Medicine, Central Psychiatric Hospital I, is the only medical staff in the case to be detained to clarify his actions.Failure to report a crime.
On the same day, Director of Central Mental Hospital 1 Vuong Van Tinh and 4 staff and nurses were arrested.suspension from workto clarify related responsibilities.
