Tuesday, January 29, 2013
A jury will now decide if a Westwood hospital is responsible for a 14-year-old's death in 2006.
In their closing arguments on Monday, lawyers attempted to sway jurors who will soon decide if a Westwood hospital is liable for the death of a 14-year-old patient who died from the side effects of a brain tumor in 2006, according to Fox 25 News. "Lawyers for the mother of patient Monique Payne say the for-profit Westwood Lodge, which is owned by United Health Services, puts profits over patient safety by failing to adequately staff the adolescent ward and by not training staff to look out for Payne's symptoms," the Fox 25 News article says. Ben Novotny, a lawyer representing Monique's mother, said the hospital ignored the girl's cries for help and that her ailment could have been easily treated. "They don't listen. They think she's …
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
At issue is whether the staff acted appropriately preceding the 2006 death of a teenage girl.
Jury selection begins today for a trial focusing on the 2006 death of a teenager at a psychiatric care center in Westwood Monique Payne was 14 when she died while a resident at Westwood Lodge, a psychiatric hospital in town. Payne died of complications from an untreated brain tumor. Her mother, Theresa Payne, told Fox 25 that understaffing at the facility is to blame. "There is no reason for her to be dead now. Whatsoever. Especially at the age of 14. It's not right," Theresa Payne told FOX Undercover in 2007. "Her life is gone. For no reason." Monique complained for four days about headaches. According to Fox, when 911 was called, it was too late. The tumor was an inactive one Monique had for years. "They ignored all her cries. She was …
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The following information was provided by the Westwood Police Department. Where arrests are mentioned, they do not indicate conviction.
Sunday, July 1 Westwood Man Arrested (8 a.m.) - Westwood Police arrested a 20-year-old man in the area of Winter Street and Dela Park Road for being a minor in possession of alcohol. The man was spotted walking down the street carrying a bottle of vodka, police said. Saturday, June 30 Westwood Lodge Patient Escapes (6:32 p.m.) - Westwood Police received a report of a 28-year-old patient having escaped Westwood Lodge Hospital on Clapboardtree Street. The man eloped from the facility by climbing over a newly-installed fence in the basketball area meant to prevent escapes. The patient, police said, was not deemed to be dangerous, and Westwood police searched the area with the assistance of a Massachusetts State Police K-9 unit. On July 1, …
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Residents can choose to receive calls anytime a patient escapes from the facility.
Following last month's public hearing on the security at Westwood Lodge, local officials have organized a "Connect CTY" database for residents in town. The program will alert residents by phone and email in an event of a potential patient escape from the hospital on Clapboardtree Street. Residents have the option to register to the system, but should note that any phone calls made could come at any point during the day or night in such an event. A similar system is already in place for emergency situations, such as inclement weather conditions, and the notion was raised at last month's hearing to implement such an alert system for Westwood Lodge patient escapes. Residents interested in signing up for the alert system must fill out a form …
42.208455
-71.225036
Westwood Lodge
45 Clapboardtree St, Westwood, MA
/articles/westwood-lodge-call-alert-system-now-available
190581
/locations/6733248
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Residents voiced their concerns in a public hearing Monday night at Thurston Middle School.
A new security fence, new legislation and additional locks are among the safety measures local and state officials are looking to implement at Westwood Lodge, residents learned at a public hearing Monday night. The hearing, hosted by the Westwood Board of Selectmen, included discussion by Westwood Lodge CEO Greg Brownstein, State Sen. Mike Rush (D-West Roxbury), State Rep. Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham), and Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Commissioner Marcia Fowler. The hearing was held in order to address rising concerns with the security of the hospital after two recent incidents involving escaped patients, one in January and a second in February. The issue of security at Westwood Lodge is something the hospital's administration …
42.21988
-71.22334
E.W. Thurston Middle School
850 High St, Westwood, MA
/articles/local-state-officials-address-westwood-lodge-concerns
723259
/locations/6524623
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Officials are weighing the possibility of installing a security fence at the facility, among other measures.
Recent developments regarding the safety of Westwood Lodge have prompted local officials to call a public hearing to be held on March 5 at 7:30 p.m. During the hearing, which will be held at the Thurston Middle School cafeteria annex, officials will address safety concerns with the building and discuss recent incidents involving escaped patients. Westwood Board of Selectmen Chair Pat Ahearn has requested the presence of Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Commissioner Marcia Fowler and Westwood Lodge CEO Greg Brownstein to be present at the hearing. Security evaluations at the building have been ongoing since early last year, and one of the possible measures official may look to is the installation of a security fence at the …
42.208455
-71.225036
Westwood Lodge
45 Clapboardtree St, Westwood, MA
/articles/poll-what-should-be-done-to-ensure-safety-at-westwood-lodge
190581
/locations/6437324
The hearing is set to take place on Monday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Thurston cafeteria annex.
Less than a week after a cap was placed on the number of Westwood Lodge patients to be housed at a given time, Westwood officials have announced a public hearing next month to discuss the safety of the facility. And among those officials hope to see at the meeting is the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. In a letter dated last Tuesday, Feb. 14, Westwood Board of Selectmen Chair Pat Ahearn urgently requested the presence of DMH Commissioner Marcia Fowler to the meeting, which is set to take place on Monday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Thurston Middle School cafeteria annex. A number of other local and state officials, as well as representatives from Westwood Lodge, have also been invited to the hearing. "We are seeking this …
42.208455
-71.225036
Westwood Lodge
45 Clapboardtree St, Westwood, MA
/articles/westwood-lodge-issues-to-be-addressed-at-public-hearing
190581
/locations/6432810
Friday, February 17, 2012
Effective immediately only 75 in-patients will be able to reside at the hospital at a given time.
After continues patient escapes from Westwood Lodge during the past several weeks and months, the hospital on Clapboardtree Street has been required by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health to cap the number of patients it houses to 75. The move, which takes effect immediately, was announced in a statement by State Sen. Mike Rush (D-West Roxbury) and State Rep. Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham) Friday afternoon. The cap of 75 patients is to remain in place until the DMH has completed reviewing and has approved the town’s plans to increase security at the hospital. While the issue of patient escapes and safety has been an ongoing issues at the hospital, the two most recent incidents in January and Febraury prompted Rush and McMurtry to …
42.208455
-71.225036
Westwood Lodge
45 Clapboardtree St, Westwood, MA
/articles/dept-of-mental-health-places-cap-on-westwood-lodge-patients
190581
/locations/6403607
Thursday, February 9, 2012
A 16-year-old escaped the hospital on Thursday morning after stealing an employee badge.
A 16-year-old male who walked away from Westwood Lodge early Thursday morning was found at South Station before noontime. Massachusetts State Police assisted Westwood Police with a K-9 unit at about 3:30 a.m. Thursday to search for the teen, who allegedly walked away from the hospital after stealing an employee badge to do so, according to a State Police statement. In addition to a K-9 unit, State Police assisted Westwood Police with a State Police Air Wing. The male was found at South Station in Boston by members of the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section at about 11:30 a.m. The incident comes just weeks after another patient escaped the building and was found hiding under the porch of a local resident…
42.208455
-71.225036
Westwood Lodge
45 Clapboardtree St, Westwood, MA
/articles/teen-who-escaped-from-westwood-lodge-found-at-south-station
190581
/locations/6349948
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
An incident earlier this month has heightened ongoing safety evaluations at the hosptial.
A recent patient escape from Westwood Lodge has prompted officials to consider installing an additional fence at the hospital among ongoing safety evaluations. The escape occurred on Saturday, Jan. 21, when Westwood Police were notified by the hospital that a patient, who had exited the building for a break, fled from the property. Two of the on-duty officers at the time responded to the area, and even arrested an individual who matched the description of the patient but became unruly when questioned about his identify. After that person was detained, police later found the actual patient under the deck of a home at Chase Estates, where the resident found the patient hiding. He was detained with the assistance of a police K-9 dog. "Since…
42.208455
-71.225036
Westwood Lodge
45 Clapboardtree St, Westwood, MA
/articles/officials-eye-safety-fence-at-westwood-lodge-field-to-remain-closed
190581
/locations/6281378
Jennifer McGowan
7:22 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I understand what she was going through due to beind a patient there numerous of times. She should have been able to go to the hospital even if there was not enough staff there also they should have called the doc to come and check her out as well so yes they are to blame for her death and they should have to pay for what happen with this young girl... more ›