Security Hospital Fined For January Patient Death

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Security Hospital is being fined $1,000 after investigators found substantiated maltreatment in an incident that led to the death of a patient.

Darnell Dee Whitefeather is charged with murder for allegedly stomping on the head of Michael Francis Douglas in order to get staffers' attention on Jan. 22. Douglas died from his injuries.

The Department of Human Services says the facility failed to provide necessary care to the two men. The department calls it an "unacceptable failure."

DHS announced the fine Tuesday. It also is extending the conditional status of the security hospital's license through late 2016.

The Minnesota Security Hospital has had a series of management lapses in recent years. The hospital was placed on conditional license status in 2011 after several cases of patient maltreatment.

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