Patient’s Suicide Bid: Hospital Not Liable

This article presents the case of a man who successfully sued a hospital for the damage he incurred from a suicide attempt. The lawsuit alleged that they did not adequately treat his depression during his hospitalization. The verdict was overturned on appeal because the appellate court found that adequate care was provided & any inadequate care was too remote from the suicide attempt to satisfy negligence. Policy implications for hospitals treating people at high risk for suicide are included. (3 refs) (SC)