Watch CBS News

Woman Blames Hospital After Brother With Mental Health Issues Goes Missing

LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A woman is pointing the finger at a hospital after she says her brother who suffers from mental illness vanished nearly a week ago.

"He had no money. He is not familiar with the area at all. He doesn't have a phone," said Deloris Farmer of her brother, Andrew Farmer.

Andrew's sister blames Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

She says he went there after a seizure but was discharged last Thursday even after she told the hospital she couldn't pick him up until the next day.

She says the hospital picked a care facility in Long Beach and put him in a taxi.

"They knew he was confused. I never even thought that I would have to say, 'Make sure that he goes inside the door,' " she said.

The care facility says the hospital called but Andrew never arrived.

"10 o'clock came and went, 12 o'clock, 1 o'clock, until 6 in the morning, I had a guy on staff here waiting and he never showed up," said Jeff Polk, the house manager for the House of the Chosen Few.

The cab company says GPS records show Andrew Farmer was picked up at the hospital and brought to the care facility in Long Beach.

The company says the hospital never provided special instructions so the driver didn't know to make sure Andrew got inside.

A hospital spokeswoman wouldn't comment about Andrew's case, citing patient privacy laws, but she provided the following statement:

"Everyone at UCLA Health is confident in the medical care we provide, and in the appropriate transition of that care, and we are united in wishing for the safe reunion of Mr. Farmer and his family."

"I'm just asking everyone to do what they would do if it were their brother," Farmer said.

Andrew also goes by the name La Mont. His family says he has a scar from brain surgery that goes from ear to ear, which caused his mental health issues.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.