State hospital director Charles Rosenblum last light namecj Dr. Thomas L. Rafferty, a Tulane university in-tructor in psychiatry, as the clinical director of the Southeast jDUisiana mental hospital at Mandeville.
The action was announced from the Covington motel which
is serving as Gov. Earl K. Long's temporary headquarters.
The appointment follows the resignation of the hospital's assistant superintendent Dr. Anthony P. Rousos and the earlier firing of Dr. Charles Belcher, the acting superintendent who was removed to clear the way for Long's release Friday. 'Temporary' Basis
Dr. Jesse H McClendon, a 72-year-old Amite general practitioner, is serving as acting superintendent on a "temporary" basis. j
Reports frorri the hospital indicated the staff psychiatrists were ready to resign as a result of the firing of Dr. Belcher.
The naming of Dr. Rafferty was designed to "provide leadership and sound judgment so necessary for administering the hospital and continuing high standards of patient care," Rosenblum said.
He said, "members of the fao ulty of both LSU and Tulane medical schools have made, and will continue to make* regular visits to the hospital to consult with the regular staff about patient problems and to take part directly in the treatment of pa-ients."
