Undercover Reporting

II-"New Patients Stripped of Belongings, Dignity" - Betty Wells - Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon

"When I was admitted to Larned State Hospital, I was stripped. Stripped of nearly all my belongings and stripped of most of my dignity. When I telephoned to obtain information about being admitted, I posed as my sister. I spoke with Dr. Mario Torres, who asked the name of the patient, and for a brief description of the problem . . . "

Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon  1974-01-29

IV-"Boredom and Drugs Form a Typical Day" - Betty Wells - Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon

"A typical day at Larned State Hospital is laced with boredom, fear, anxiety and a lot of drugs - for the patients. . ."

Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon  1974-01-31

"Continuing Hospital Probe Urged" - Betty Wells - Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon

"Probate Court Jude Clark V. Owens says he almost committed himself to Larned State Hospital several years ago to check on conditions there. But since his court is responsible for all involuntary commitments from Sedgwick County, he decided the risk of being found out might be too great . . ."

Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon  1974-02-05

Reaction- "Time for a Look" - Unsigned - Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon

"The first impression, after a careful reading of the Betty Wells series in The Eagle on Larned State Hospital is that patients, though not brutalized, are sometimes mistreated, and that there is a serious shortage of professional help for them."

Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon  1974-02-05

Reaction- "Legislators Explore Mental Hospital Probe" - John Petterson - WIchita Eagle and Wichita Beacon

"'Questionable areas' at Larned State Hospital, detailed in a Wichita Eagle series, should be investigated, Rep. Charles F. Laird, D-Topeka, said. Laird said Friday he plans to explore the possibility of calling for a legislative investigation of conditions at the state mental hospital. . ."

Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon  1974-02-03

Guest Editorial- "Larned, the City, Is a Nice Place" - Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon

". . .So Wichita Eagle reporter Betty Wells isn't uncommon when she says it was a nightmare. Most of us, given her role in a sudden departure from the world of openness, honking horns, laughter, work activity and rational idea exchange, probably would agree. But to the point of our discussion. . ."

Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon  1974-02-03

VI-"Day at Larned Just One Big Trip" - Betty Wells - Wichita Eagle and Wichta Beacon

"Want a real tri? Like drugs? Visit Larned State Hospital. Become a patient and you'll be administered enough anti-depressants to calm the greatest fear you ever thought you had. . ."

Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon  1974-02-02

III-"Patient Welcomed by Assault, Sexual Attack" - Betty Wells - Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon

"But it had been my first exposure to other women patients earlier in the day which set the stage for future occurrences, many of which were highlighted not for their starkness, but by boredom. . ."

Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon  1974-01-30

"Reporter Speaks on LSH" - Unsigned - Great Bend Tribune

Great Bend Tribune (KS)  1974-05-01

"Larned Hospital Investigation Planned" - Unsigned - Salinas Journal

"A committee has been appointed at Larned State Hospital to look into a report of a patient mistreatment, according to Ralph Arnold, information coordinator for the hospital. . ."

Salina Journal (KS)  1974-01-31

"Pawnee County Mental Health Group Says LSH Attacks Unfair" - Pawnee County Mental Health Association - Great Bend Tribune

"We are writing in response to the recent articles on the Larned State Hospital in the Wichita Eagle written by Betty Wells. We realize that Miss Wells thought she was writing an expose but she lacked the experience and training to judge what was taking place around her at the hospital."It is the opinion of this organization that Miss Wells has caused great damage with her articles to the patients in the hospital with an invasion of privacy, and disruption of treatment, discouragement and fear for those seeking treatment, and for the destruction of the image of the mental health program. Several patients have been removed from the hospital against medical advice and are still sick. Their chances of recovery have been hindered because of these articles and the way they were written. This would be a terrible burden to realize that one person had denied sick people the opportunity for recovery and for a normal life for personal gain and to sell newspapers. . . ."

Great Bend Tribune (KS)  1974-02-27