Failure to Prevent Suicide Claims

We can act in a number of situations including where the person who died was a detained mental health patient on a voluntary or involuntary basis, someone being cared for in the community, or indeed someone without a formally diagnosed mental health condition.

Such claims may arise when:

• A patient was detained in a psychiatric care unit but procedures were not properly followed such that they were able to either leave or access drugs or dangerous objects.
• There was a failure to admit a patient to hospital when they were a suicide risk.
• A patient was incorrectly discharged from a hospital setting.
• Insufficient risk assessments were undertaken around a hospitalised patient’s suicide risk.
• There were failures to make suitable supervision arrangements for a patient at risk.
• There were failures to provide suitable treatments or medication in hospital or to prescribe these in the community.
• There were failures to correctly diagnose and treat mental illness.
• There were failures in the management of medication withdrawal.

We understand how incredibly traumatic the loss of a loved one by suicide is and will seek to fully investigate the circumstances and establish whether a successful claim can be made. It has to be proven that a duty of care was owed to the deceased, that this was breached by the provision of substandard care and that, but for that failing in care, the suicide would have been avoided.

We are able to provide representation at inquests and guide families through the process, ensuring that their voices are heard.

If you have lost someone through suicide and are concerned that this was due to failings in medical care, please contact us to discuss how we can help.