The therapist who captured a video of Baltimore-based University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus security guards leaving a discharged patient at a bus stop in January wearing only a hospital gown and socks has died at age 47, The Baltimore Sun reports.
Imamu Baraka, a Baltimore-based psychotherapist, died July 12 after a long bout with cancer, his mother, Glenda Smith, said July 17.
When Mr. Baraka found the woman outside of the hospital in January, he posted a video on Facebook of the woman in an effort to raise awareness about the mistreatment of the mentally ill. The video sparked a nationwide conversation about patient dumping.
The woman in the video, whose family later identified her as Rebecca, had a history of mental illness. Mr. Baraka wanted to fight the stigma around mental illness and sought to get more African-Americans to seek treatment, Ms. Smith said.
Rebecca was taken back to the hospital the night Mr. Baraka called 911. After the incident, CMS cited the hospital for patient safety violations. The hospital also hired a new president to lead the Midtown Campus and made changes to discharge protocols.
Before he died, Mr. Baraka was planning to start a magazine and expand his counseling practice, Ms. Smith said.
"I just hope people continue what he started in bringing attention to mental illness," she said.