A 7 Action News story exposing a disturbing discovery inside a shuttered mental health facility is getting the attention of a state senator.
The Doorstep Homeless Shelter and mental health facility in Highland Park used to house hundreds of Wayne County's most vulnerable citizens.
When the owner of Metro Emergency Services, which ran the facility, got indicted for diverting millions of dollars to himself and his property management company, the dominoes began to fall. Not long after, the doors closed.
When they did, thousands of patient and employee records were left behind.
While the shuttered facility is located in State Senator Bert Johnson's district, he tells 7 Action News, the lack of patient privacy reaches beyond Highland Park's border and impacts more than the poor.
"Truth is, Highland Park just happens to be the place where the facility was located," Johnson tells 7 Action News. "I'm sure it impacts people from all across Southeastern Michigan, that should be cause for alarm for anyone."
A tipster alerted 7 Action News to the forgotten documents, which were scattered throughout the building.
Johnson says it doesn't matter how long they have been there, something needs to be done.
"It doesn't matter how long they have been in there, we have to protect the information of people. The state has to come in and deliver the documents to safety," said Johnson.
Despite Michigan having rules and regulations regarding patient records, Metro Emergency Services has never disciplined.
Click here to find out more about Michigan's patient rights.
