Editing Hall-Brooks Sanitarium

{{infobox institution
| name = Hall-Brooke Sanitarium
| image = Hall-Brooke.png
| image_size = 250px
| established = 1898
| opened = May 1, 1898
| current_status = [[Active Institution|Active]]
| building_style = [[Cottage Planned Institutions|Cottage Plan]]
| location = Westport, CT
| alternate_names =<br>
*Dr. McFarland’s Sanitarium
*Hall-Brooke Hospital
*Hall-Brooke Behavioral Health Services
}}

==History==

Hall-Brooke Sanitarium first opened as Dr. McFarland’s Sanitarium in May of 1898 in Greens Farm, Connecticut, in a building that was formerly a country residence. In 1900, the sanitarium was relocated to its permanent location in Westport and was housed in a former summer hotel.

Dr. David Walter McFarland opened McFarland’s Sanitarium to treat “nervous diseases,” tobacco and drug addiction. Dr. McFarland earned his medical degree from the University of the City of New York Medical Department in 1885. Before opening his own sanitarium, McFarland was the assistant physician at the Morristown, New Jersey State Asylum for the Insane from 1886 – 1887. He also served as the assistant physician at the infamous New York City Asylum for the Insane on Blackwell Island for a short period of time. 

The sanitarium grounds expanded from 18 acres in 1903 to 120 acres by 1904. The main building housed female patients while a second, large three-story house became the male ward. Each building had the capacity for 30 patients. A smaller cottage on the property provided additional accommodations for five more patients of the “more disturbed type of insanity.” 

Dr. McFarland died in 1934 and the hospital was taken over by new management. After his death, the hospital went into steady decline becoming no more than a rest home providing basic treatment. 

The hospital was brought into the modern era in 1952 with new management who transformed Hall-Brooke into a first-class psychiatric hospital. The hospital enlarged its facilities, adding a specialized treatment center for alcoholics. This new unit was separated from mental health patients. The hospital also received expanded laboratory facilities and enlarged occupational and recreational therapy departments. Treatments offered included analytical therapy, as well as electro- and insulin shock therapies.

In 1965, the hospital became a non-profit organization and the Hall-Brooke Foundation took over operation of the hospital in 1966. The 1970s brought more modern drug addiction treatments like methadone and detoxification. By 1979, Hall-Brooke was facing serious financial difficulties and over half the beds were empty.

St. Vincent’s Health Services absorbed Hall-Brooke in 1998. A few years later, five original sanitarium buildings were demolished and construction began on a new, modern hospital with a 60-bed capacity.

In 2019, St. Vincent’s Health Services was sold to Hartford HealthCare. The hospital still provides substance abuse programs, drug treatment and detoxification programs, and in-patient care.

==Controversies==

Hall-Brooke Sanitarium and Dr. McFarland had its fair share of controversies. In 1910, a female patient was left unattended and fatally strangled another. The sanitarium was named in multiple legal cases regarding false imprisonment and patient negligence. 

A full-scale investigation was launched in 1923 when a female patient died and during autopsy, her body showed remarkable bruising and marks. Dr. McFarland was found not at fault when records showed that the patient was considered one of the hospital’s “most violent” and her injuries were self-inflicted. The report stated that the patient died of “exhaustion resulting from acute mania, which was the verdict of the physicians who performed the autopsy on the body.” According to the nurses who cared for the patient, she was capable of throwing them about and had to be restrained at all times, even when being fed. All charges were dropped and Dr. McFarland was absolved from blame in the woman’s death. Less than two weeks later, Dr. McFarland struck a physically disabled man but faced no charges. 

In 1927 Dr. McFarland was charged with violating state law after leaving the hospital under the charge of an unlicensed physician while McFarland was traveling around Europe for months. He was arrested and held on bond until trial. The charges were eventually dropped. 

Dr. McFarland faced legal trouble again in 1930 after he was charged with conspiracy and fraud. A female patient undergoing treatment for drug addiction was influenced by McFarland and his wife to build a $60,000 house on hospital grounds. The McFarlands lived in the house and at the patient’s expense for years. The McFarlands denied these accusations. A judge ruled in favor of the McFarlands but did order them to pay the patient’s family $1150 for an unpaid sum the patient loaned the doctor. 

In 1932 a male patient “jumped or fell” from the hospital porch and was killed. According to a newspaper article, he “lost his life through negligence. He was left unguarded on the open porch.” The patient’s wife received $5000 in damages. 

The hospital again faced trouble in 1952 when the Supreme Court of Connecticut received a case of potential false imprisonment, battery, and assault of a male patient. The patient claimed that he was held at Hall-Brooke without consent or good reason. He claimed to be beaten and subjected to unwarranted shock treatments. Once again, the hospital was found not at fault. A judge disclaimed the patient’s accusations of abuse since there was no evidence of such restraints. 

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[[Category:Single Building Institutions]]
[[Category:Active Institution]]
[[Category:Connecticut]]