Full Breakdown
Family Sues UCLA Over Psychiatric Care Leading to Robert Carradine’s Death
8/11/2026, 11:06:08 AM
Core Event
Actor Robert Carradine, age 71, died on February 23, 2026 after a suicide attempt while hospitalized at UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital. His children have filed a wrongful-death, elder-abuse and neglect lawsuit against the Regents of the University of California, alleging that the hospital failed to follow safety protocols that could have prevented his death.
Background & Context
Carradine had a documented history of bipolar disorder, severe depression with psychotic features, anxiety, and prior suicide attempts. In January, he voluntarily admitted himself to UCLA’s psychiatric unit after experiencing ongoing suicidal ideation, according to a Los Angeles County medical examiner’s report. Hospital policy requires that patients with active suicidal thoughts be stripped of items such as belts, shoelaces and drawstrings that could be used for self-harm. The complaint asserts that Carradine was allowed to keep a belt and was left unattended for extended periods, violating that policy.
Data & Statistics
- Age at death: 71.
- Time from admission to suicide attempt: roughly 19 hours.
- Duration of intensive-care stay: about five weeks before he succumbed to complications.
- Medical cause of death: complications of an anoxic brain injury, ruled a suicide by the medical examiner.
- Damages sought: general, special, economic and wrongful-death damages (specific amounts not disclosed).
Official Statements & Responses
UCLA Health and Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital have not provided comment to the press regarding the lawsuit. The complaint also cites video documentation that allegedly shows staff failing to perform the required 15-minute checks in the hour before the incident.
On-the-Ground Reports
According to the lawsuit, surveillance video contradicts the hospital’s written records, which claim Carradine participated in group therapy and received regular monitoring. The filing alleges that staff did not check on him for long periods and that a rolling bedside table—an item not standard for the locked psychiatric unit—remained in his room, creating an additional hazard.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The medical examiner’s report classifies the death as suicide resulting from an anoxic brain injury, while the family alleges that hospital documentation misrepresents the timeline and nature of care. No independent verification of the video evidence has been presented, leaving a gap in publicly available proof of the alleged monitoring failures.
What’s Next
The lawsuit proceeds through the California civil courts, where the plaintiffs will seek damages and potentially request injunctive relief to enforce stricter safety protocols at UCLA’s psychiatric facilities. No court dates have been disclosed.
