Timberlawn Hospital in East Dallas Draws Federal Inspection After 13-year-old Reports Rape

Federal regulators have ordered safety inspectors into Timberlawn psychiatric hospital after The Dallas Morning News reported allegations that a 13-year-old girl was raped there.The inspection team arrived Friday, the day after The News reported that Dallas police were investigating the allegations. No one has been arrested, police said Wednesday.James Miller, the hospital’s chief executive, said Timberlawn staff was cooperating with authorities.In a written statement, he said Timberlawn views all inspections “as an opportunity to enhance and improve our operations.”The inspectors work for the state's health agency and also conduct probes on behalf of federal officials.For an allegation of sexual assault, inspectors focus on patient rights, especially the right to be in a safe and secure environment, said Carrie Williams, spokeswoman for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.Inspectors will review patient records and incident reports, as well as procedures for patient supervision. They will also tour the unit and pay close attention to where an incident may have occurred to see if it’s readily visible to staff.Timberlawn has come under frequent scrutiny from regulators over the past few years because of repeated safety problems, including the death of a doctor who was attacked by a patient in 2016, according to health inspection and police records.In August, federal inspectors found a breakdown in nursing care provided to a diabetic patient. Nurses didn't administer his insulin per doctor's orders, according to an inspection report.  Continue reading...