Otieno family files lawsuit against Parham Doctors’ Hospital

HENRICO, Va. (WWBT) – The family of Irvo Otieno, a man who died in 2023 during a mental health crisis, is suing the hospital he was first taken to for wrongful death.

Otieno was 28 when he died in the custody of Henrico sheriff’s deputies at Central State Hospital in March 2023.

On March 3, 2023, Henrico Police said Otieno was taken to Parham Doctors’ Hospital, where the “Crisis Receiving Center” is located, which is where police said Otieno became physically assaultive toward officers.

After this, authorities said Otieno was transported to Henrico Jail. Three days later, Otieno was transported to Central State Hospital by Henrico deputies.

He was in the midst of a mental health crisis when multiple deputies and healthcare workers restrained him; he died of asphyxia.

11 people were charged in Otieno’s death at the time, but all of their charges were later set aside in November 2024.

“On March 6, 2023, Irvo Otieno died as a direct, proximate, and foreseeable result of the actions and omissions of HCA Health Services of Virginia, Inc. This case is yet another sad example of the broken mental health crisis system in the greater Richmond metropolitan area that led to the tragic and senseless suffering and death of a vulnerable member of our community,” the lawsuit said in part.

The 20-page lawsuit says Otieno’s family is seeking $25 million from HCA Healthcare, which owns Parham Doctors’ Hospital, for Irvo’s wrongful death.

HCA responded to the suit with the following statement sent to 12 On Your Side:

“We are in receipt of the Complaint filed on behalf of Irvo Otieno’s Estate. Due to patient privacy rights, Parham Doctors’ Hospital is unable to comment on a patient’s medical care and treatment. We are, however, able to comment upon publicly available information. Mr. Otieno was brought to Parham Doctors’ Hospital pursuant to an Emergency Custody Order on March 3, 2023. While at Parham Doctors’ Hospital, Mr. Otieno struck and injured a Henrico County Police Officer. This prompted Mr. Otieno’s arrest and removal from our facility on March 3, 2023. We are aware that Mr. Otieno was taken to the Henrico County Jail before being transported to Central State Hospital on March 6, 2023, where he later died. His death resulted in criminal charges, which we understand were dismissed in the Fall of 2024. The Estate also pursued civil claims against Henrico County, Henrico County Sherriff’s Office, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, which resolved for $8,500,000 in the Fall of 2023. Parham Doctor’s Hospital was surprised, and disappointed, to receive this lawsuit two years after Mr. Otieno was at our facility and stands behind the care and treatment its health care team provided to Mr. Otieno. To that end, we will appropriately defend our care providers while continuing to deliver the highest degree of patient care to our patients.”

Find more of our coverage of Irvo Otieno here.

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