pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668481Closure of Controversial Rehab Facility Sovereign Health Comes After FBI Raids and Numerous Lawsuits

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 13, 2024) – Sovereign Health, once one of the largest rehab and health companies in the country, has shut down after an FBI raid and several lawsuits.

Critics of the rehab company accused it of putting profits ahead of the needs of its patients. Sovereign Health has also faced a number of lawsuits.

In particular, the company recently settled one case for $11 million. The lawsuit was brought by the parents of a 26-year-old man who died by suicide at Sovereign’s San Clemente treatment facility.

Attorneys for his family said that the death could have been prevented. They described the young man who died as a UCLA-grad who worked as an aerospace engineer.

However, he suffered a mental breakdown not long after college.

Legal Considerations For Deaths At California Rehab Facilities 

Rehab facilities are supposed to be places where people can go to heal. But far too often, people are not given the care that they need during one of the most vulnerable periods of their lives. According to USA Today, “More than 1.4 million people sought treatment for alcohol or drug addiction from inpatient, outpatient and residential treatment programs in 2015, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The federal agency recorded 3,362 deaths.” There are a number of reasons that a patient may die at a rehab facility.

  • Patients may die from medical complications if they are not being properly monitored.
  • Patients in rehab facilities are at great risk of an overdose.
  • Staff at these facilities may not put patients through proper detox protocols.
  • Some rehab patients are at risk of suicide and may not be given the care that they need.

Rehab facilities have a legal obligation to protect all of the patients in their care from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This includes harm from overdoses, medical conditions, and suicides. When a rehab facility fails to take reasonable measures to protect patients, they could be held at fault through a civil claim. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any death at a rehab facility.

  • Medical records should be collected.
  • An independent autopsy may need to be conducted.
  • Surveillance footage should be reviewed.
  • An experienced personal injury attorney should be contacted.

Rehab facilities are for-profit businesses. They have to balance making money with properly caring for patients. But in far too many situations, this balance becomes lopsided in ways that needlessly put patients at risk. It is important that rehab patients and their families understand that they do have rights. The family of any person that died in a rehab facility may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.

Investigating Deaths At California Rehab Facilities 

We at the Sehat Law Firm were deeply concerned to hear about the safety issues reported at Sovereign Health. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to make other rehab facilities safer. No family should ever have to worry that their loved one may inadvertently die while they are in the process of getting care.

Has your family member died at a California rehab facility? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that people are aware of their rights and that rehab facilities are held to account for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.

 

 

 

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