Drew Pinsky's photo vanishes from troubled hospital's website

A photo of Dr. Drew Pinsky, co-medical director of Aurora Las Encinas Hospital, vanished from the facility's website today even as the celeb doc  distanced himself from the troubled institution. The Pasadena psychiatric hospital is under scrutiny over the unexpected deaths of three patients as well as the rape of a teenage girl, all in the last five months. The Times' Ron Lin has the details:

Until Thursday, Pinsky was the only physician whose photo was featured on the hospital website home page. Elsewhere on the site, his name remained listed as co-medical director of the chemical dependency unit. Pinsky co-hosts the syndicated radio show "Loveline" and anchors the reality TV show on VH1, "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew."

In an interview with The Times on Thursday, Pinsky defended the hospital while saying, "It's not my hospital," adding that it was a "bizarre misconception" that people associated him with Las Encinas.

When told he is the only physician with a photo on Las Encinas' website home page Thursday night, Pinsky said he was unaware of it. By this morning, Pinsky's photo vanished from the Las Encinas website.

Aurora Las Encinas gets a mention (at this writing, anyway) in Pinsky's bio on the "Loveline" website — "He is currently the Medical Director for the Department of Chemical Dependency Services at Las Encinas Hospital, a world-renowned psychiatric facility in Pasadena known for treating celebrity patients" — and shows up on VH1's site (same caveat) as well.

Meanwhile, Pinsky defends the Pasadena hospital. Lin has that story.

—Veronique de Turenne

Photo: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times

 

Comments

[linda epperson]

im asking for help because my cousin linda is going through a very deep depression. I dont know wheather to take her to a meeting at las encinas or what to do. I was asked to help her by her spouse so your the first one i thought of. he wants to know what he can do for her. everyone knows shes depressed. so what kind of group can she come to,does she need someones help? i dont know she lost her dad at the age of about 8 yrs. old and her mother before she was 18 yrs. old. shes only 52 yrs. old but she lost . theres nothing that gives her interest. well were lost . so if you can respond we would greatly appreciate any assistance. thank you, Anne-Marie Tare

[Adam Bilecki]

Mental Health is a tricky business I have mentally documented cases in a similar facility in Illinois treating psychiatric measures. There were many similar cases as to what happened in California, stories of rape suicide and abuse. However there is a fine line between a patient, Dr. and consumer. Though tales of abuse stemmed from doctors and patients. All patients want to be treated right away and think they are the best canidate for treatment around the clock. However the mental health system is an orderly process and consumers must wait their turn to be treated. However Alex's orderly was fired on account of neglect, his parents would have been better off putting their child in lock down for 24 hours and getting a court ordered rehabilitation program because he was in a "voluntary,"program.

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[Sandy]

I'm disappointed in Dr. Pinsky. He had the best opportunity to take the high road as Dr. Keith Ablow and Dr. Charles Whitfield did.

Instead he becomes the narcissist he accuses his celebrity patients of being. He had the responsibiility as director to be of help and value to patients and staff, and was my opinion, neglectful.

As an addiction specialist, he is privy to a variety of recovery methods yet these are never seen or explored.

In my opinion his 15 minutes of fame are over.

[a mom]

The only good that hopefully will come of this horrible chain of deaths at the Aurora facility is that attention is drawn to a serious need. We need to to improve the care that a person receives when they are brave enough to ask for help. Mental health care in the USA is sadly lacking in so many areas. From limited health insurance coverage to a lack of excellent care at our "best' facilities. I hope Dr Drew is brave enough to use his celebrity to demand better care at not only this facility but all facilities that deal with patients with substance abuse.

[Frank Rodasky]

Anyone who questions Dr Drew's credentials should bother check them. He is a Board Certified Addiction Medicine Specialist. Those who call him a "fraud" should take their own advice and shut up. Dr Drew is targeted in this article because he is the most recognized name associated with the facility, nothing more.

[David h]

I think your reporter should get their facts straight before trying to report this statement about Dr Drew. Should we shut down your operation because a ill advised reporter didnt do the right thing and not be biased about this report, or not even check into the facts that Doc had nothing to do with these cases, or the nurses or other personel that was involved with these people. You should get your facts straight before printing detremental info about other people first. In fact I ask for this reporter to be fired because he or she did not do the thing that they are in a job for, #1 get the facts right and true.
dh from nc

[Alison]

After reading this article I am left wondering why only Dr. Pinsky was identified. He is the co-director of the Chemical Dependency unit. Why isn’t the other director of the unit, the medical director, and the doctors that treated the patients listed? He was not involved in the treatment of these patients. I do believe that he does have a responsibility to investigate the incidents and help to develop some procedures to prevent this from occurring. He may have already done that but out of respect for the patients and their families he is unable to discuss it. Also when you are treating patients who are heavily addicted, you will have some deaths. It is unfortunate but sometimes you can't save the person from themselves. Dr. Pinsky is a special man who has helped so many young people who have no where else to turn. He has been able to get some people to realize that they need treatment and they listened to him and are now sober. Shame on the LA Times for printing such a biased article.

[Lost a Loved One]

To all of you who think this is a "stupid story" and/or a "waste of time." It is, I guess, until something tragic like this happens to YOUR loved one or family. Then, you'd get it. Hospitals have an OBLIGATION to protect their patients. Safety is EVERY patient's right. Getting "that phone call" that your loved one - whom you thought was being watched, cared for, and protected is now DEAD is a call that forever changes your life. It's ignorance like what some post to this blog that keeps these issues on the back pages and gives 15 minutes of fame to truly "stupid stories" like the moron who took a bath in the sink in Burger King. That situation was EASY to fix: fire a few employees and replace the sink. There are NO FIXES for these senseless losses. And, for those of you who don't get it, you would quickly if you lost a loved one in this manner.

[one who knows]

All of the doctors who are Medical Directors of the units have some degree of responsibility. The CEO Linda Parks came seven months ago -- it took a month for her to start cutting staff and fire anyone who disagreed with her. Financial motivation is the reason -- she's gets the bonus.

Good people have been fired -- the CEO says she can hire off the street --
no experience necessary.

Doctors have been aware that there have been experienced staff who have left in droves -- some have stayed and have been fighting to keep standards safe. But, when you don't have staff, how can you do rounds?

What organization doesn't make the leader responsibile?

[Mike]

I think you people might be missing the story here....is Dr. Drew Pinsky linked to the hospital where these untoward events have occured? If he is a Medical Director as his bio's point out, he is accountable. I don't think its a co-incidence that he's now been caught with his "possible fraud'....I think its time to shut him down for what he is "a teenage money maker for VH-1, MTV, and the like" and maybe his lack of medical ethics at Las Encinas.

Sounds like alot of medical malpractice time for some lucky attorneys.

[Dee Anne]

Is this really what counts as news in LA? Really?? Nothing more important going on?? Dr. Pinsky is just that...a doctor. He's not the webmaster for the hospital. Why does it matter anyway? What a stupid story!

[richard]

Drew Pinsky is a fraud and a huckster. He made a fortune as Dr. Drew on his show Loveline selling pornographic descriptions on oral and anal sex to his late night rock radio station audience of mostly pre-teen and early teen listeners. He wrapped his cheap, porno, pre-teen shockathon programs in a phony gloss of "medicine" and "education." The junior high school students who call the show know what it takes to get selected to be on the air with "Dr. Drew." They ask questions like " Dr Drew, my boyfriend likes anal sex 30 times a week and I like it too. Do you think we have a problem?" Then Dr. Drew puts on his phony doctor persona and entertains his pre-teen audience with lurid details which they giggle about among their friends. Dr. Drew is a fraud and should shut up.

[Jim Townes]

Jason - I think afro-american is a term that hasn't been used for about 35 years

but I agree that article was a complete waste of time

[tania cendejas]

I have to say that as a former writer who once contributed to this organization, I am left disappointed, and in search of credibility within each of these articles relating to Dr. Drew Pinsky's involvement (or lack thereof) in these misinterpreted incidents. What readers truly seek out is a writer's ability to convey concrete facts in their messages, not mere assumptions or conclusions that have been drawn from unreliable sources. I feel that the only way to redeem the damage that has been done is to shed light upon the true subject behind these unfortunate events--addiction, the central theme behind Dr. Drew's incessant efforts. To even allude to this individual as someone who is the very reason behind chaos and destruction is complete fabrication.

Consider the effect that these articles have had upon Dr. Pinsky. If anything, there has been an increasingly amount of support provided by his family, colleagues, patients and avid supporters like myself.

[anonymous observer]

It's appropriate that he should be given the benefit of the doubt, but given Dr. Pinsky's bio on the Loveline site, which at the moment still contains a prominent reference to Aurora Las Encinas Hospital, we hope he might agree, on second thought, that it shouldn't be 'bizarre' for people to make the connection.

@ Jason B. - I am aware of the historical significance of Dr. Charles Drew, and the apparent controversy surrounding his death. However, some of the people who are involved in this story had real lives that were tragically cut short as well. Your point?

[browne]

I thought the same think Jason and I am very aware of both the Drews.

As I kid I listened to Lovelines for "advice." I just passed by the exit for Charles Drew University earlier this morning while riding the Green Line.

I did think this was about Charles Drew though.

[ScreenShot]

Do a search for the name of the hospital in Google.

Click on "Cached".

Wait for the photos to cycle through and you will see the photo in question.

You can take a screenshot (screen capture) to keep a copy. If you don't know how to do that, it is a good skill to learn.

[Jason B.]

When I saw the "Dr. Drew" headline, I assumed that the article referred to Dr. Charles Drew, the Afro-American physician who was a blood expert. His life was tragically cut short. The similarities between the men end at their similar names. I feel bad for having clicked on this "gossip column"-type article.