A Chicago Counselor's Dark Legacy: Trust Betrayed

A man who once held a position of trust in a Chicago hospital now faces serious charges. Edmund Rivers, a former mental health counselor, is accused of sexually assaulting five young boys. These assaults allegedly happened between 1996 and 2004 at Hartgrove Behavioral Health Hospital. The hospital, now known as Hartgrove Behavioral Health System, is located in the city's Austin neighborhood. Rivers, now 68, is charged with three counts of criminal sexual assault and two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault. Prosecutors allege that Rivers assaulted the boys in various locations within the hospital, including patient rooms, a seclusion room, a cafeteria bathroom, and a gym equipment room. The victims reported that Rivers threatened to sedate them if they did not comply with his advances. Several of the victims came forward after hearing about a civil lawsuit filed last year against Hartgrove and its parent company, Universal Health Services. The lawsuit was filed by an Illinois man, anonymously named as John Doe 1, who alleged that multiple staff members sexually abused him as a child. The lawsuit also alleged that Hartgrove and Universal Health Services were negligent in their duties. The case has since been consolidated with other civil lawsuits against the hospital and Universal Health Services, all alleging sexual abuse of patients at the facility. In a court document filed earlier this year, the plaintiff's attorneys stated that they represent more than 150 people alleging abuse at the Chicago Hartgrove facility. Hartgrove and Universal Health Services have not responded to requests for comment. This case raises serious questions about the safety and well-being of patients in behavioral health facilities. It also highlights the importance of accountability and transparency in these institutions. Last year, a U. S. Senate committee published a report titled \"Warehouses of Neglect\" following an investigation of allegations of abuse and neglect at residential treatment facilities operated by companies including Universal Health Services. The report found that these companies aim to maximize profit by filling their facilities while reducing the number and quality of employees. Children at these facilities suffer from sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, unsafe and unsanitary conditions, and inadequate provision of behavioral health treatment.