Patient dies unexpectedly at Oregon State Hospital

A patient died unexpectedly on Tuesday at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon. The Oregon Health Authority announced the death but did not provide further details. The family of the deceased has been informed. Due to privacy laws, the hospital cannot share specifics about the patient, including their age or gender, or the suspected cause of death. A hospital spokesperson confirmed this on Thursday. The Oregon State Hospital was warned last year about potential risks to its Medicaid and Medicare funding after several incidents, including three patient deaths. Investigators found that staff failed to conduct required hourly checks on patients, which contributed to a patient's death last May. Since then, the hospital has taken corrective measures and is currently not at risk of losing its certification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Officials have notified the federal agency about the recent death. The hospital serves more than 550 patients, most of whom are there to receive treatment to prepare them for criminal trials. The facility has faced an ongoing federal lawsuit since 2002 over how quickly it admits and treats individuals.