Hospital where Lizzie McGuire star Robert Carradine, 71, died by suicide FAILED to follow safety protocols, bombshell government report finds

The UCLA hospital where actor Robert Carradine tragically took his own life in February was cited for breaching safety protocols in a report from the Department of Health and Human Services.

The findings of the report were submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday in an addendum to an August 7 lawsuit filed by Carradine's children against the Regents of the University of California, and reviewed by the Daily Mail.

Carradine's children claimed staffing failures at UCLA's Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital led to their father's death at age 71 on February 23 from the effects of an anoxic brain injury caused by a suicide attempt while he was being treated at the facility. 

Based off an inspection conducted in April, 'the facility was found not to be in compliance' with DHHS rules related to patient rights and nursing services.

The report stated that the hospital 'failed to provide a safe environment for care,' citing a rule that calls for checks on patients every 15 minutes 'in accordance to the facility's policy and procedure.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to attorneys for the family, UC Regents, the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital and the Department of Health and Human Services for further comment on the story.

Another item cited in the report noted the presence of 'two contraband items' in the form of 'a belt and a bedside table' that Carradine used in his suicide attempt.

The facility's director of quality management told DHHS officials in April that 'the nurse failed to confiscate (take or seize with authority) the contraband of a belt, cellphone, and wallet' when Carradine had been admitted to the facility January 16.

The director said 'she was not aware whose responsibility it was to remove the bedside table' in Carradine's room, according to the DHHS report, adding that she said the table 'was probably left over from the previous occupant' in the room.

Earlier this month, Carradine's daughters Ever and Marika, and son Ian, filed a wrongful death and elder abuse and neglect lawsuit against the regents and various does. 

According to court documents obtained by The Daily Mail, Carradine voluntarily admitted himself into Resnick twice in one month - he was discharged following seven days on January 9 before returning on January 16 due to a 'manic episode suicidal ideation.' 

Carradine was 'relieved to be hospitalized' and hoped that 'additional inpatient treatment would reduce his anxiety,' the documents stated. 

'But Robert's hopes for successful treatment didn't match the reality he had stepped into,' the document claims. 'Instead of walking into a safe environment, he walked into a locked facility that broke a cardinal rule for a hospitalized psychiatric patient with active suicidal thoughts and a history of suicide attempts.'

Carradine's children specifically highlighted that he was never stripped of a 'belt,' which is outlined as contraband, the complaint alleges. 

'The belongings form that UCLA generated from Robert's admission shows the facility failed to confiscate his belt,' the lawsuit alleged. 'UCLA also left a rolling bedside table in his room, which was not a standard piece of furniture in the locked psych unit.'

Carradine's manner of death was ruled suicide in June; the actor endured a long struggle with serious mental illness that his family has spoken about publicly. 

Medical Examiner records state that the actor had a history of bipolar disorder, severe depression with psychotic features, anxiety and prior suicidal ideation.

'None of this happened because UCLA lacked the knowledge, the policies or the means,' the family's lawsuit said. 'It happened because UCLA took shortcuts with two safeguards that were meant to protect Robert's life.'

Carradine's children also claimed 'no one watched him or checked on him for long periods of time despite orders to watch him every 15 minutes.'

'The staff member assigned to watch Robert sat in a chair in the hallway and entered observations into an iPad without ever looking at him. 

Carradine's children said in the filing, 'The iPad carried forward whatever information had last been entered, so that UCLA staff were allowed to click that they had checked on someone without ever looking at them.' 

'On paper, UCLA produced a perfect record, making it look like they were checking on suicidal patients every 15 minutes.'

'In reality, UCLA allowed staff to cut corners knowing that doing so placed its patients with suicidal ideation, including Robert at risk of suicide and death.'

Additionally, the filing stated UCLA 'did not investigate reality' and recorded 'a version of events' contradicted by video surveillance.

The plaintiffs are seeking general damages, special and economic damages, and wrongful damages.

According to the medical examiner's investigative summary, Carradine voluntarily admitted himself to UCLA's Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital on January 16, 2026 because he was experiencing suicidal thoughts.

The following day, hospital staff found him unresponsive in his room after what investigators described as an apparent hanging involving a leather belt.

Medical personnel were able to restore circulation and Carradine was transferred to intensive care, where he remained hospitalized for more than five weeks.

His condition continued to deteriorate and he was pronounced dead on February 23.

The medical examiner's report lists the cause of death as 'sequelae of anoxic brain injury' due to hanging. The report notes that no foul play was suspected.

Investigators interviewed family members as part of the inquiry into Carradine's death.

Carradine had battled bipolar disorder, depression and psychosis for roughly two decades and had recently become increasingly depressed.

The records also indicate that Carradine had previously sought treatment for suicidal thoughts at the same facility.

Family members believed he had been discharged too early following an earlier hospitalization before he returned and admitted himself again in January. 

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US at 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.