Crime
Family Alleges Psychiatric Patient Died After Staff Failed to Stop Him Drinking Toilet Water
A family is suing an Oregon psychiatric hospital, alleging staff stood by and watched as a patient drank himself to death.
Law&Crime reported on Wednesday, July 15, that Kenneth Hass died from “water intoxication” in March 2025 after consuming an estimated 89 cups (roughly 5.1 gallons) of toilet water over a three-hour span while confined to a seclusion room at Oregon State Hospital.
The lawsuit was filed by Sierra Hass, the victim’s sister, on Monday, July 13, in U.S. District Court in Portland. “Kenneth deserved respect and dignity like any other person, and the hospital failed to acknowledge this and caused him to suffer for so many years,” Sierra said in an official statement obtained by ABC affiliate KATU on Monday, July 13.
According to the complaint obtained by Law&Crime, the lawsuit alleges staff “failed to monitor” Hass and “failed to document” his behavior despite knowing he had a history of drinking dangerous amounts of water and submerging his head in the toilet.
During the incident, Hass reportedly fell multiple times, hit his head and vomited in front of workers. One staffer allegedly said, “You don’t have to chart it.”
After a fall left him choking and spitting up “white liquid foam,” a Code Blue was called, but according to the complaint, staff “did not immediately respond.”
More than five minutes passed before anyone began CPR. Paramedics arrived roughly 15 minutes after his fall, and Hass was pronounced dead 47 minutes later, according to Law&Crime.
The lawsuit also claims Hass had been held in isolation for 250 consecutive days before his death, allegedly left without clean clothes or a shower in rooms “smeared with feces and urine.”
A federal audit reportedly found major delays in the hospital’s emergency response and a “disorganized response causing further delay and confusion.”
Hass’ family is suing Oregon State Hospital and the Oregon Health Authority for negligence, wrongful death and violations of his constitutional rights.
