Last week's report of a patient's death at Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro now has been amplified in shocking, sickening detail. Federal officials have threatened to withhold funding from the public mental hospital, although state officials are working to prevent that. But it's clear that strong action must be taken, including the dismissal of some staff members and possibly a criminal investigation. This is the kind of event that undoubtedly strikes fear in the hearts of every family with a patient in state facilities, and that should outrage everyone.

A report by state investigators, working for the federal government, cited appalling problems with the care -- or perhaps that should be lack of care -- given to Steven H. Sabock, 50. And the hospital's security video apparently recorded damning evidence.

Sabock choked on his medicine while a nurse stood by without helping him. He fell back and hit his head on the floor, but a nurse said she could not tell if he had been injured. He went through the day without food until he died from what was determined to be a heart problem.

According to the report, as related by The News & Observer's Lynn Bonner, health care technicians can be seen on video recordings watching TV through the night, playing cards, talking on cell phones. Sabock was sitting up in a busy part of the hospital through four shifts. At one point, the report says, a technician was stretching a cord from a machine to measure vital signs across the room "while she appeared to be dancing" and that the technician "hugged or kissed" another technician "who was sitting at a table in the dayroom playing cards."

Sabock had recently been admitted. He died on April 29.

Also, investigators found that doctors' orders for Sabock weren't followed, and that there was no evidence that nurses had evaluated his nutrition. A doctor, the report said, was not notified about the "inadequate nutritional intake."

Investigators also found that the hospital hadn't properly handled another April case when a teenage patient with developmental disabilities was hurt in a struggle with a doctor.

Cherry Hospital has been one of four facilities in the state's mental hospital system. Clearly it is a place with some grave problems. And it must be unsettling for those who have family members in other hospitals to ponder whether their loved ones are being adequately and compassionate cared for. Certainly it's true that many doctors, nurses and technicians in the system deliver care that is both competent and heart-felt. But a News & Observer series earlier this year detailed a host of costly problems with management of the mental health care system. There appear to be real dangers for patients.

Governor Easley acted after The N&O report, giving Health and Human Services Secretary Dempsey Benton the charge of fixing the problems. It seems that Benton's task is bigger than anyone could have imagined. (He's sending in a departmental team to evaluate.)

Problems that threaten the welfare of patients must go to the front of the line when it comes to the search for solutions. If it takes reorganization and dismissals all through the chain of command at hospitals to get things right, so be it. There must be no tolerance for those who work anywhere in the system who do not understand the profound responsibilities they have.

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