Update from DRNC

TRO Stopping the Transfer of Dix Patients to Central Regional Hospital Extended
Indefinitely

Raleigh, NC

On Tuesday, September 23, 2008, Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC) filed suit against the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to prevent the transfer of patients from Dorothea Dix Hospital to Central Regional Hospital (CRH) in Butner.

On Thursday, September 25, 2008, Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour entered a Temporary Restraining Order prohibiting the transfer and setting a hearing for DRNC’s Motion for a Preliminary Injunction for Monday, October 6, 2008.

DRNC and DHHS have now entered into an agreement extending the Temporary Restraining
Order for an indefinite period. Today, Judge Baddour approved that agreement by Order of the
Court. This order will maintain the status quo and leave the patients at Dorothea Dix Hospital for the immediate future.

During this time, it is anticipated that the results of a recent inspection
conducted by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be made public. The
conclusions made by CMS will shed light on one of the central issue presented by DRNC’s court
action– whether conditions at CRH are in compliance with CMS standards.

“We are pleased that the Department has agreed to postpone transfer of patients from Dorothea
Dix to Central Regional Hospital. We urge the Department to aggressively address the known
safety concerns at Central Regional Hospital so that it’s current and any future patients are in a
safe and therapeutic environment,” said Vicki Smith, Disability Rights North Carolina’s
Executive Director.


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Disability Rights North Carolina is the state’s federally mandated protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities. One of the P&A’s primary federal mandates is to protect and
advocate against the abuse and neglect of people with disabilities in the care of state institutions