Counselor Alexander Chun suspended for five years over patient suicide

March 3, 2009

The Washington Department of Health issued an Agreed Order on registered counselor ALEXANDER J. CHUN, suspending his counseling registration for at least five years due to unprofessional conduct as follows: In January 2008, while employed at a long-term adolescent residential mental health treatment facility, Mr. Chun failed to actually conduct safety checks every five minutes on a 15-year-old suicidal patient. It was noted that Mr. Chun came on duty at 7 am on January 29, 2008 and noted in the “5 Minute Checks” log (where the staff are to register that they conducted a routine check of a suicidal patient), that he observed the patient at regular intervals and that she was safe. However, the patient was found dead inside her room at the facility on that day. The county coroner ruled it a suicide with an estimated time of death of 4:30 am on January 29—two and a half hours before Mr. Chun’s shift started. He may not seek reinstatement of his license for five years.

(Stipulated Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order, In the Matter of Alexander J. Chun, Credential No. RC00058835, Case No. M2008-118011, State of Washington Department of Health, February 25, 2009.)