by Mindy Aguon
Guam - Attorney Daniel
Somerfleck isn't so optimistic about the services at the Department of Mental
Health and Substance Abuse. As a matter of fact in a filing with the District
Court he expressed his concerns about how the agency handled a consumer who barricaded
herself in a restroom. Apparently, staff and two security guards went in to the
restroom, held the consumer down, gave her a shot of medication and covered her
head with a blanket.
"One was that they were injecting something into her
into the person. The second was that there seemed to be restraint with no
notation as to how long the restraint went on, how long the activity went on
and then there's the issue of whether the person was restrained face up or face
down," said Somerfleck.
Mental Health Director Wilfred Aflague signed-off on the
incident report and the recommendation that the report merely be a basis for
future reference. Somerfleck told the court he believes the federal management
team and Aflague are incapable or unwilling to ensure the safety of consumers
under the permanent injunction.
