MISSION VIEJO : Residents Oppose Controversial Ward

Residents living near a mental health care hospital will get a final chance tonight to speak out about the facility’s plan to open an involuntary-hold ward for suicidal and drug-abuse patients.

Neighbors of Charter Hospital, a 90-bed facility at 23228 Madero near Los Alisos Boulevard, are expected to go before the City Council to appeal a recent Planning Commission decision that supported the ward.

Angry residents have said that when hospital administrators sought approval from the city for the hospital three years ago, they promised there would be no treatment of so-called “5150� patients, named for the state law that requires people who have attempted suicide to be held for 72 hours.

“They promised then, on bended knees, that they wouldn’t be back before the city asking for that ward,� said Ben Meharg, a former planning commissioner who lives about a mile from the hospital. “They made that promise from Day One. Now they want to break it.�

Hospital Administrator Jeff Thrash conceded that the company had said it would not build an emergency treatment ward at Charter.

“But is that commitment in the best interest of the community?� he asked. “I don’t believe so.� Thrash added that Mission Viejo needs a facility to treat people who are dangerous to themselves and others.

“Those individuals in here for (emergency) treatment have to be transferred to another hospital and another doctor, who has to re-evaluate the person all over again,� he said.

Those living near the hospital have also expressed concern about dangerous individuals being released in their neighborhood. But the Planning Commission approved the new ward in September, maintaining that there is a dire need in the community for such services. The commission also reserved the right to review the program.

Barring any legal challenge, the hospital will turn to the county for final approval. Thrash said the process would take four to six months.