3 medical staff detained after patient dies in mental hospital

Three medical staff from a mental hospital in Qingyuan, South China's Guangdong province, have been detained for further investigation after a female patient was reported beaten to death while receiving treatment in the hospital late last month.

The Qingyuan Bureau of Public Security confirmed in a statement released on Monday that police have detained three on the medical staff surnamed Fei, Chen and Liang, respectively, who were responsible for treating and looking after a 57-year-old female patient surnamed Guo, who once had a mental disorder.

Police promised to investigate the case to its fullest extent and make the findings public. But police refused to reveal details as the investigation is active.

The Qingyuan Bureau of Health and Family Planning also set up a special task force to focus on investigating the case, which raised great concern among locals.

Guo's son, surnamed Chen, said he sent his mother to the city's Zhengde Mental Hospital on Oct 27 and Guo was found dead on Oct 29.

Surveillance video from the hospital showed Guo was once tied, beaten on the ground and kicked in her head after she was hospitalized for treatment.

The hospital refused to comment on the case Tuesday when police and relevant departments started the investigation.