The following is an exerpt from a report entitled
"the closing of the Philadelphia State Hospital" by Michael J. Orezechowski:
For more than a decade,
rumors abounded that Philadelphia State Hospital (Byberry) was to be closed. In 1985 and 1986 a series of events took place
that gave rise to questions of negligence, patient abuse, and the deaths of several patients. Other issues that added to the
call for closure of Byberry the reported excesses in the use of chemical and mechanical restraints and seclusion.
All of these allegations
helped the then governor of pennsylvainia, Richard Thornburg, to initiate investigations. The first was conducted by the Blue
Ribbon Committee, a group of professionals and non-professionals hand picked by the Thornburg administration. The second was
composed of state employees from various departments and discipines with the title of supervisor or above. The actual announcement
of the closing of Byberry was made by the newly elected administration of Governor Bob Casey.
Dr. Bryce Templeton,
M.D. on September 17, 1988:
"In May 1987, the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvainia appointed a task force subsequently called the Blue Ribbon Committee to review the operation of Philadelphia
State Hospital, to evaluate its treatment of patients, and to look into allegations of patient abuse"
On December 7, 1987,
a press conference was held concerning the closing of the hospital. At this time the media were informed that the hospital
was to be closed permanently by December 7, 1989. The reasons cited were reports made by the two investigative teams. Reportedly,
they had found conditions at the hospital to be "atrious" and "irreversable". The amount of negligence, and types of patient
abuse were intolerable.
