EDITORIAL
Kane'ohe Hospital: a sobering lesson

One of the sadder and more embarrassing chapters in Hawai'i's history came to a successful close Friday when Federal Judge David Ezra dismissed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the state for failing to properly care for the mentally ill.

There is cause for celebration that the state finally has facilities and programs at its Kane'ohe hospital that meet federal standards.

But there is equal cause for concern that it took a lawsuit and years of effort to get us to this point.

And the task is not yet over. While Ezra lifted his supervision of a consent decree covering the Kane'ohe facility, he said he will keep a close watch on the state's progress in improving community services for the mentally ill.

That makes sense, given the history of this case.

The original lawsuit focused heavily on the hospital, but it also charged that the state was failing in its overall responsibility to the mentally ill, including community-based services and support for patients once they are released.

That second aspect remains a work in progress.

In fairness to the state, it has been hampered by shifting philosophical and legal tides concerning the best way to deal with the mentally ill. Should they be hospitalized? Left in the community? Placed in halfway houses? Let alone?

But at the end of the day, society — acting through the state — has a moral and legal responsibility to protect those who are most vulnerable, including the mentally ill, the poor, school children with special needs and others.

In far too many cases, we have responded only when forced to by lawsuits or outside intervention.

It need not be that way. It usually turns out that it is cheaper and quicker to act properly from the beginning rather than waiting until we are forced to act.

One can only hope this case has driven that lesson home.