Story perspectives

Carradine Estate Sues UC Regents Over Hospital Checks

8/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Carradine’s estate and children filed a lawsuit on Aug. 7 in Los Angeles Court against the UC Regents and medical center.
The 71-year-old actor was admitted to Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital in February after reporting suicidal thoughts and died 19 hours later.
The complaint says staff did not remove Carradine’s belt, take the table, or perform the required 15-minute checks.
Plaintiffs seek unspecified general and wrongful-death damages and reimbursement for medical expenses.

History

Historical Context

Since the Joint Commission created National Patient Safety Goals in 2003, it added mandates such as the 2003 suicide-check goal and a 2014 alarm-fatigue goal prompted by a 2013 sentinel-event alert. That alert noted 566 FDA-recorded deaths from ignored alarms (2005-2008). The 2024 lawsuit against Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital and UC Regents tests enforcement of those suicide-monitoring standards.

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Story summary

Carradine’s estate and children filed a lawsuit on Aug. 7 in Los Angeles Court against the UC Regents and medical center.
The 71-year-old actor was admitted to Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital in February after reporting suicidal thoughts and died 19 hours later.
The complaint says staff did not remove Carradine’s belt, take the table, or perform the required 15-minute checks.
Plaintiffs seek unspecified general and wrongful-death damages and reimbursement for medical expenses.

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