Mental medical center in Cuckoo's Nest film gives remains of patients back to relatives

Remains of patients who died at the mental medical center used within the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest" are being transferred through a new program to the family members of the deceased. Oregon State Medical center 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 personal installment loans for family members to give these people a proper burial.

Those who passed away have remains at ‘Cuckoos Nest’

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

Book and movie setting

The 1975 film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” which starred Jack Nicholson, takes place at OR State Hospital. Author Ken Kesey was inspired to write the 1962 book the movie is located on while working at a mental health facility while attending Stanford. While searching for an appropriate location to film the movie, permission was granted to film at OR State Medical center, the largest psychiatric hospital in OR. IMDB reports the character Dr. Spivey is the hospital administrator played by Dr. Dean Brooks. Brooks has an M.D. in psychiatry and was the administrator of OR State Hospital at the time of filming.

Change movie caused with mental health

The movie 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 also got credit for better standards of treatment and the decline within the use of electroconvulsive therapy, or shock treatment, for several mental disorders.

Information from

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