The case of a mentally ill man under the District of Columbia’s supervision who gouged out his eyes only to be served with a $2.2 million tab has spurred legislation that would prohibit D.C. from billing certain patients whenthe city is found negligent for their care.

Council Member Phil Mendelson introduced the measure Tuesday in response to the case of Frank Harris, a schizophrenic and longtime patient at St. Elizabeths Hospital who in March 2003 poked his own eyes out minutes after hospital staff released him from restraints.