Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 4137 — Jurisdiction and General Government

Whenever a patient dies in a state mental hospital and the coroner finds that the death was by accident or at the hands of another person other than by accident, the State Department of State Hospitals shall determine upon review of the coroner’s investigation if the death resulted from the negligence, recklessness, or intentional act of a state employee. If it is determined that the death directly resulted from the negligence, recklessness, or intentional act of a state employee, the department shall immediately notify the State Personnel Board and any appropriate licensing agency and shall terminate the employment of the employee as provided by law. In addition, if the state employee is a licensed mental health professional, the appropriate licensing board shall inquire into the circumstances of the death, examine the findings of the coroner’s investigation, and make a determination of whether the mental health professional should have his or her license revoked or suspended or be subject to other disciplinary action. “Licensed mental health professional,” as used in this section, means a person licensed by any board, bureau, department, or agency pursuant to a state law and employed in a state mental hospital.