The children of the late actor Robert Carradine have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Regents of the University of California, alleging negligence and failures in staffing and protocols at UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital contributed to their father’s passing. Carradine, known for his roles in “Revenge of the Nerds” and “Lizzie McGuire,” died on February 23 at the age of 71 from an anoxic brain injury resulting from a suicide attempt during his treatment at the facility.

Lawsuit Alleges Critical Safeguards Were Ignored

The lawsuit, brought forth by Carradine’s daughters Ever and Marika, and son Ian, claims that despite his known history of mental illness and suicidal ideation, the hospital failed to implement essential safety measures. Court documents indicate that Carradine voluntarily admitted himself to the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital twice within a single month. His first admission began on January 9, and he was discharged after seven days. However, he returned on January 16, experiencing a “manic episode suicidal ideation.” According to the filing, Carradine expressed relief at being hospitalized, hoping for treatment to alleviate his anxiety.

“Instead of walking into a safe environment, he walked into a locked facility that broke a cardinal rule for a hospitalized psychiatric patient with active suicidal thoughts and a history of suicide attempts,” the lawsuit states, asserting that his hopes for effective treatment were unmet.

Specific Failures Cited in the Complaint

The complaint highlights several specific alleged oversights by hospital staff:

• Failure to Confiscate Contraband: The lawsuit claims Carradine was not stripped of a belt, which is listed as contraband in hospital protocols for psychiatric patients with suicidal tendencies.
• Inappropriate Furniture: A rolling bedside table, described as non-standard furniture for a locked psychiatric unit, was allegedly left in his room.
• Inadequate Patient Monitoring: The most critical allegation concerns patient supervision. The suit contends that staff assigned to monitor Carradine, who was supposed to be observed every 15 minutes, instead sat in a hallway and entered observations remotely via an iPad. This system allegedly allowed staff to log checks without actually observing the patient, creating a false record of compliance.

“On paper, UCLA produced a perfect record, making it look like they were checking on suicidal patients every 15 minutes,” the lawsuit alleges. “In reality, UCLA allowed staff to cut corners knowing that doing so placed its patients with suicidal ideation, including Robert at risk of suicide and death.”

Actor’s History of Mental Illness

Medical records confirm that Robert Carradine had a long-standing battle with mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, severe depression with psychotic features, and anxiety, with a documented history of suicidal ideation. His family has publicly acknowledged his struggles. The medical examiner’s report, which ruled his death a suicide in June, noted the cause as “sequelae of anoxic brain injury” due to hanging. The report did not suspect foul play.

Family members reportedly believed Carradine may have been discharged prematurely from an earlier hospitalization before his final admission. The lawsuit asserts that these failures were not due to a lack of resources or knowledge but rather a deliberate choice by UCLA to “take shortcuts with two safeguards that were meant to protect Robert’s life.”

Timeline of Events Leading to Death

According to the medical examiner’s investigative summary, Carradine was found unresponsive in his room on January 17, the day after his second admission, following what investigators described as an apparent hanging involving a leather belt. Hospital staff were able to restore circulation, and Carradine was transferred to intensive care. He remained hospitalized for over five weeks, but his condition continued to decline, and he was pronounced dead on February 23.

The plaintiffs are seeking general, special, economic, and wrongful damages. A representative for UCLA and the UC Regents has been contacted for comment.

Conclusion

The lawsuit filed by Robert Carradine’s children aims to hold the University of California accountable for what they describe as critical lapses in care at the UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital. The allegations center on failures to confiscate dangerous items, provide appropriate furniture, and, most significantly, maintain constant and genuine patient observation for individuals with severe suicidal ideation. The case highlights the profound challenges in psychiatric care and the devastating consequences when safety protocols are allegedly compromised.