Here is a real life example of a man that took his own life when he was allowed to leave a secure psychiatric ward alone, just 10 days after a serious suicide attempt.
The Smith’s (not real name) were a normal American family of four. Mr. Smith had a good job, a nice house, a loving wife and two beautiful children. However, he suffered from psychiatric illness and addiction. Tragically, on the very day he had an appointment to see a psychiatrist for help, he attempted to take his own life. During his initial suicide attempt, he took over 30 Xanax pills and drank a liter of vodka. Mr. Smith’s daughter found him unconscious and saved her father’s life by calling 911.
Following Mr. Smith’s suicide attempt, the hospital admitted him to a locked psychiatric ward. On the 10th day of his admission, Mr. Smith’s attending doctor gave permission for him to leave the hospital alone to attend an outpatient treatment program. The attending doctor gave permission despite having not seen Mr. Smith for the last 2 days as well as not performing a necessary suicide assessment. After the interview, Mr. Smith did not return to the hospital and instead took his own life with a nail gun.
It was not acceptable medical judgment to permit Mr. Smith to leave the hospital alone and the attending doctor’s determination that Mr. Smith was fit to leave without first performing a suicide assessment was far less than a proper professional medical judgment and constituted a departure from the standard of care.
Contributor: Robert Sullivan – Prominent Long Island Medical Negligence Attorney handling medical malpractice, general negligence, motor vehicle and construction site accident matters.