Dr. Drew of VH1's 'Celebrity Rehab' faces questions

By Stone Martindale Aug 24, 2008, 5:30 GMT

04/24/2008 - Dr. Drew Pinsky - 12th Annual PRISM Awards - Arrivals - Beverly Hills Hotel - Beverly Hills, CA USA © Chris Hatcher / PR Photos

Three people have died mysteriously at the rehab hospital where Dr. Drew Pinsky runs his celebrity rehab show for VH1.

The California Department of Public Health is investigating a Pasadena hospital which hosts VH1's reality show "Celebrity Rehab" after three patients reportedly died and one was allegedly raped on the premises during the past five months.  The facility's chemical dependency program is co-directed by Pinsky, host of radio's "Love Line" and "Celebrity Rehab."

Both ABC and the LA Times received statements from Dr. Drew Pinsky that he had nothing to do with the three reported deaths and one rape that took place at the rehab center where he works.

The three dead were all patients at the Aurora Las Encinas Hospital, according to ABC News' Los Angeles affiliate KABC.

While the hospital refused to confirm the reported rape and deaths, citing patient confidentiality laws, a CDPH spokesman confirmed to ABC the ongoing investigation.

The Times claims that Pinsky was the only physician whose photo was featured on the hospital website home page. It is now removed.

In an interview with The Times on Thursday, Pinsky defended the hospital while saying, "It's not my hospital," and said it was a "bizarre misconception" that people associated him with Las Encinas.

The Times noted that the Aurora Las Encinas is mentioned in Pinsky's bio on his "Loveline" website and VH1:

"He is currently the Medical Director for the Department of Chemical Dependency Services at Las Encinas Hospital, a world-renowned psychiatric facility in Pasadena known for treating celebrity patients"