by David Gonzalez

Many Americans believe that the neglect and abuse of patients in psychiatric institutions are a thing of the past and that they no longer take place. They believe that treatment is now humanely provided with the care of the patient being the primary objective of the hospital. But the recent release of a security video from the "G" Bldg., from New York City's Kings County Hospital proves that these practices have not stopped.

On June 19th, 2008, Esmin Elizabeth Green, a mother of six, died due to neglect in the G Bldg. after she toppled out of her seat and fell flat on her face. She was ignored by two security guards, two nurses and a psychiatrist as she lay dying on the floor.

Kings County Hospital opened in 1831, when Brooklyn was its own city and construction of the Brooklyn Bridge would not begin for almost 40 years.

Sadly, what has brought Ms. Green's appalling death to public scrutiny is not that it was unusual or uncommon in any way, but that it was caught on video. It is obvious from watching the video that she was still alive as she lay unconscious on the floor. The lack of compassion, callous indifference, and subsequent cover-up exposes the systemic abuse that takes place under the guise of treatment and advocacy.

On Friday, July 25th, 2008, survivors of institutional psychiatry outraged by the death of Ms. Green gathered in front of the G Bldg. and held a demonstration/candlelight vigil to expose this history of abuse and neglect. Some of those are pictured here: