A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against High Focus Centers, a private equity-backed mental health provider, following the suicide of Stephen Henry LaSala Jr. The lawsuit, brought by his widow Marianne LaSala, alleges that the facility’s negligent outpatient care led to his death. LaSala, who had struggled with mental health issues, was under stable care for years with a psychiatrist. After his psychiatrist’s retirement and a suicide attempt in 2022, he received inpatient stabilization at New York Presbyterian before transitioning to High Focus’ outpatient “Partial Hospitalization Program.” However, according to the complaint, this program lacked the intensive support implied by its name.
The case raises scrutiny over private equity’s growing influence in healthcare, with concerns that profit motives may compromise patient care. Critics, including Senators Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren, have recently urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to examine this issue, citing risks like inadequate staffing and insufficient oversight.