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Mark Fonda, the patient at Mid-Hudson State Forensic Psychiatric Center, who exposed a corruption and abuse scandal at the facility, continues to update New York City Voices on his dark experiences.
Fonda claims that, since the first story New York City Voices published about himself and Mid-Hudson, conditions at Mid Hudson have improved in some ways, but in other ways they've gotten worse.
A positive result of the story, Fonda indicated, is that Mid-Hudson arranged a conference-call involving Mid-Hudson, Fonda and his family that may, in the future, result in Fonda's transfer to a civilian psychiatric facility. However, Fonda also told us that Mid-Hudson, as a result of the publication of his story, has canceled its subscription to New York City Voices.
“Furthermore,” Fonda says, “Mid-Hudson has fire-walled the City Voices website on its library's Internet service.”
To make matters worse, the “mafia-type guy,” who, according to our first story, was calling out for and bringing in money to the facility, has threatened Fonda.
“He got up in my face and claimed that there is a 'bounty on my head,'” Fonda says.
Fonda, who now has to contend with a bounty on his head, was brutally assaulted by another patient. The patient punched Fonda in the face and attempted to gouge out Fonda's eye. Part of Fonda's cornea was dislodged and he will therefore require medical treatment.
"My cornea is nicked badly—a chunk is missing out of the center of my eye. They're giving me Tylenol for the pain.” Fonda is going to see the ophthalmologist after the holidays.
The assailant was moved to another ward and lost privileges. His money is being taken away and he can't earn any in the work skills program. But Fonds suspects he'll be receiving a pay-off in the mail for having attacked Fonda.
The hospital is talking to Fonda about having him transferred to another hospital. He has rejected two places already, because they are also dangerous, opting to hold out for the Capital District Psychiatric Center, which he thinks—or at least hopes, he may be transferred to in the spring or summer.
We will continue to update you on the Mid-Hudson situation.