Hospital used in Cuckoo's Nest film passing remains of patients to family members

Remains of patients that died while in a mental facility can be hard to secure at times by the bereaved. The hospital used in the movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest" is attempting to get remains to the hands of the family members of the dearly departed. OR State Hospital stored unclaimed cremated remains of patients from decades ago, until the room the remains were stored in was re-discovered several years ago. It could take many installment loans for family members to give these people a proper burial.

'Cuckoos Nest’ medical center keeps remains of patients

Oregon State Hospital, a psychiatric medical center in Salem, Ore., has been attempting to place remains of patients who passed away while within the hospital’s care with their families, according to ABC. There was a room of about 3,500 patients who died and had cremated remains left behind which was found in 2004 by legislators touring the hospital. An online database of those who passed away at the medical center between 1914 and 1970 that has remains there has been made by the hospital recently. A memorial can be created in 2012 for the unclaimed patients along with a new psychiatric medical center that the OR facility got together.

Setting for legendary novel and movie

The place in which the “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” movie took place is at the OR State Medical center. Jack Nicholson starred in this 1975 film. While at Stanford, author Ken Kesey worked at a mental health center which was why he wrote the 1962 novel. While looking for an appropriate location to film the film, permission was granted to film at Oregon State Hospital, the largest psychiatric medical center in Oregon. IMDB reports the character Dr. Spivey is the medical center administrator played by Dr. Dean Brooks. The Oregon State Hospital had Brooks as the administrator when this occurred as he has an M.D. in psychiatry.

Mental health effects

The film was credited for altering public perception about the nature of mental illness and psychiatric care, according to The Telegraph, by humanizing people who lived at mental health facilities. The movie made it so that electroconvulsive therapy for mental disorders was stopped. It’s also the reason why treatment standards got better.

Citations

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=12808876&page=1

IMDB

imdb.com/name/nm0111954/bio

The Telegraph

telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8296954/How-One-Flew-Over-the-Cuckoos-Nest-changed-psychiatry.html