Bradley Burns
Bradley Burns was a 34-year-old man and a Northeastern University honors graduate who had owned two physical therapy clinics before schizophrenia changed his life. His parents, John and Margaret Burns, still ask why their son had to suffer so much. He had been kept almost fully immobilized in restraints for about 16 months at Bridgewater State Hospital, and on May 31, 2010, he stopped breathing while in pain. The state medical examiner found the likely cause was a heart arrhythmia linked to his medications and the restraints. His family and lawyer say his treatment was punitive and that the emergency response was flawed.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The state medical examiner attributed his death to a heart arrhythmia linked to his medications and restraints, while his family and lawyer say staff used punitive treatment and that the emergency response was flawed.
Reported by: state medical examiner; his family and lawyer.