He removed his own eyeball in a psych hospital. His family couldn't sue — until now
LOS ANGELES - Roman Arustamyan can't see the holiday decorations surrounding him, or his wife and children shuffling around in sweaters in their Van Nuys home.
Arustamyan, 64, was diagnosed with a severe mental illness more than two decades ago. His family said medicines helped the retired neurosurgeon keep his symptoms in check and stay mostly healthy - until 2013, when he removed one of his eyeballs during a stay at a local psychiatric hospital.
Three years later, Arustamyan badly damaged his other eye during stays at two different hospitals, and it had to be removed, the family said.
Arustamyan is one of hundreds of people across the state who have been injured while admitted to psychiatric hospitals in California over the past decade, according to a Times analysis.
