Psychiatrist Joseph Haraszti, worked at Dr. Drew's "Celebrity Rehab" hospital, placed on probation

December 5, 2012

On August 24, 2012, the Medical Board of California placed psychiatrist Joseph S. Haraszti on probation for two years with terms and conditions for negligence in overall care and treatment of a patient who died.

The state’s document cites specifically that Haraszti failed to appropriately detoxify the patient from alcohol and opiate drugs.

Patient “L.G.” was admitted to Aurora Las Encinas Hospital (ALEH) in late November 2006 for drug and alcohol detoxification. The document notes numerous failures to monitor and document L.G.’s vital signs.

Two days after admission to ALEH, the patient was found breathing but unresponsive and was rushed to the ER of a local medical center, where he given substances to counteract the effects of benzodiazepines and opioids and was stabilized. He was returned to ALEH with orders that his vital signs be checked every four hours. Again, the document mentions failure to document both L.G.’s vital signs and the monitoring of L.G. in 15-minute intervals, despite the previous entry on his vital signs indicating tachycardia.

The last time his vitals were taken, on November 30, hyptertension and tachycardia were noted again.

Despite a December 1, 2006, 6:00 am report that L.G. “slept through the night without incident. Monitored every 15 minutes for safety,” he was found dead three hours later by this therapist.