Oh Dr Drew... say it ain't so

(Aug. 25) - The California psychiatric center affiliated with pop culture icon Dr. Drew Pinsky is under investigation after three patients died and a 14-year-old was raped there in the past five months, according to media reports.

Pinsky, host of the "Loveline" radio show and the VH-1 show "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew,"' is listed as co-medical director of the chemical dependency unit at the Aurora Las Encinas Hospital. He has said he did not directly treat any of the patients in question.

The hospital boasts $1,400-a-night rooms and spa-like amenities for well-heeled patients suffering from mental illness and substance abuse. Two patients died of overdoses in two days this April and the state Department of Health faulted the hospital for the deaths, according to reports by the Los Angeles Times and ABC News.

Jeffrey Hearn, 28, apparently overdosed on drugs he had been given by another patient, according to the news reports.

Alex Clyburn, 23, still had high levels of narcotics in his system when he checked into the facility, according to the Los Angeles Times. Doctors gave him additional medication and ordered staff to check on him every 15 minutes. He was found dead in his room the next morning, the Times said. The hospital fired a nurse for failing to look in on him.

The third person hanged himself earlier this month, and the next day the 14-year-old girl reported she was raped by a 16-year-old patient near where hospital staff slept, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Pinsky said he had nothing to do with any of the incidents.

"These are not my patients," he told ABCNews.com. "To associate me with these situations is really becoming an egregious problem."

Clyburn's mother said she considered Pinsky responsible.

"I think Dr. Drew is responsible for the quality of care on that unit and he should have known that there needed to be corrections made," Arline Clyburn told ABCNEWS.com. She said she plans to sue the hospital.

Pinsky first gained fame through the radio show "Loveline" in the late 1980s and 1990s and became known for his forthright advice. His new reality television show, based at a recovery facility near Aurora Las Encinas, has drawn fire from those who say he is unfairly taking advantage of patients as well as pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable for a reality television show.

The hospital featured Pinsky's photo on its Web site -- the only doctor so featured -- but soon after news of the deaths circulated the photo was removed.

The federal government threatened to halt funding for the hospital four years ago when two patients died. One drowned, and the other died after two days in leg restraints. He was supposed to be restrained for only 3 1/2 hours, according to news reports.

After the recent incidents a subsidiary of the nation's second-largest health insurer, UnitedHealth Group, has halted referrals to he hospital as the insurance company conducts its own investigation into the recent deaths.

Boy oh Boy!! I sure do LOVE me some Dr. Drew and have been counting the days to the new season of Celebrity Rehab on VH-1!!!

Now really, I have no idea if he is at fault or not but these people were seriously screwed up to land at this facility in the first place so they should be under ROUND THE CLOCK babysitting and under lockdown at certain times. Also patients should be searched inside and out LITERALLY for contraband. When I watched the first season of Celeb Rehab they did that. They wouldn't even let Mary Carey (VERY UNDERSTANDABLY) bring her porn movies or toys in with her! How did these NON celebrities smuggle all these drugs in??? And if it was from visitors, you should not be allowed unsupervised visits!!! C'mon folks!! I have NO medical background and could have done a better job at running the facility! I really hope the good Doctor is NOT at fault for any of these tragic deaths!!!