As one of the leading causes of death for young people, suicide has become a growing concern in recent years. Much is still unknown about depression, bipolar, and other mental illnesses; unfortunately, there is a lot of guesswork when it comes to treating mental illness. However, if a doctor or nurse fails to recognize a patient’s imminent risk of self-harm, there may be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. It is the duty of healthcare professionals to look for the signs and symptoms that point to a dangerous mental health crisis, and ensure that actions are taken to prevent self harm, such as involuntary hospital admission. If your loved one committed suicide or attempted to commit suicide and suffered a serious injury, you can work with a Tampa preventable suicide lawyer to pursue justice in the form of a medical malpractice claim. Freidin Brown, P.A. has assisted families in such tragedies, and can help you obtain the compensation your loved one is owed.
What Stands as Negligence in a Suicide Malpractice Claim?
Potential defendants in a suicide malpractice claim include psychiatrists, psychologists, other physicians, nurses, therapists, hospitals, and mental health care clinics. If the healthcare professional failed to properly assess the patient for the risk of suicide, failed to notice the signs of suicide risk, or did not take appropriate action when the risk of suicide was discovered, they may be liable for your loved one’s death or injuries. To determine negligence, the following questions must be asked:
- Was a suicide risk assessment performed?
- What questions were asked during this assessment (what stressors could be causing the potential emotional crisis)?
- Did the healthcare professional take into account the patient’s past sexual abuse or abuse they suffered as a child?
- Was the patient going through divorce or a child custody battle?
- Did the patient lose their job or suffer another major financial hardship?
- Did the patient suffer the loss of a loved one?
- If the patient was a minor, were they being bullied at school?
- What was the patient’s history with suicide attempts?
- What mental illness or illnesses was the patient diagnosed with?
- Was substance abuse involved?
- Was the patient being medicated?
- Did the patient’s medication put them at increased risk of suicidal thoughts or tendencies?
- Did the healthcare professional take into account family member input?
- Did the patient describe their suicide plan or talk at length of suicide?
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Treatment Options That Should Have Been Pursued
After the healthcare professional discovered (or should have discovered) a patient’s risk of suicide, there are a number of treatment options that should be pursued. These include: refusing to discharge a patient from the hospital, involuntary admission to a hospital or mental health clinic, quickly and regularly following up on the patient, and warning the patient about the suicide risks of various prescription drugs used to treat depression or other mental health conditions.
Call a Tampa Preventable Suicide Lawyer Today
Family members of those who have taken their own lives can seek substantial damages by filing a medical malpractice claim against the at-fault party. More than that, they are able to seek some semblance of justice. Call the Tampa preventable suicide lawyers at Freidin Brown, P.A. today to schedule a free consultation.
