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With the successful abatement of chronic health conditions such as heart disease and stroke over the last five years, people are living longer and healthier lives. That being said, just because there has been a positive change in one health sector doesn’t mean that all is right in US healthcare. Mental health is at an all-time low, and cases of suicide are on the rise. Pressures from modern life, the lack of support systems and a disconnect from one’s purpose all conspire to make suicide one of the tragic health emergencies facing the nation at large. While people are of the opinion that suicide is something that cannot be overseen or stopped, the law takes a different stance: with proper monitoring and treatment, those who are thinking of attempting suicide may just have their lives saved in the nick of time.

Do you believe that your friend or loved one’s physician or caregiver should have done more to prevent the suicide of someone close to you? Healthcare professionals are trained to look out for signs of declining mental health. Therefore, if someone takes their own life while under the eye or responsibility of these individuals, they should answer via a medical malpractice lawsuit owing to their negligence at a pivotal time in your loved one’s life.  Please contact our failure to prevent suicide attorneys NOW at 1 (773) 825-3547 to learn more about your legal rights for justice and compensation.

Suicide Risk Assessment

High risk patients, especially those with ongoing mental health pathologies usually go through a suicide risk assessment from time to time.  In addition, those going through major life changes such as the death of a loved one, a divorce, learning that they have a terminal illness, as well as those with a prior history of suicide attempts should be provided with a certain standard of care which includes this assessment as well as the implementation of modalities that can prevent the act from taking place.

Suicide Prevention and Failure

Suicide prevention, especially for high risk individuals, usually involves admitting them involuntarily into a hospital’s psychiatric ward and placing them under round-the-clock monitoring. Suicide lawsuits are typically filed when it can be determined by an attorney that the attending nurse of physician failed to recognize signs which pointed to increased suicide risk and failed to give the patient proper treatment leading to them taking their own life.

Failure to Prevent Suicide – Who Is Liable?

There are no clear liability rules when it comes to establishing who is at fault for your loved one’s suicide; however, there must exist a doctor-patient, nurse-patient, therapist-patient, school counselor-student relationship in order to establish liability. This is the first step to establishing a legal argument that will stand up to scrutiny. That being said, an experienced failure to prevent suicide lawyer will be able to cover all bases to make sure that you get justice for your deceased loved one and the family and friends they left behind. Need to hear more? Call us for FREE and compassionate legal advice from one of our experienced and friendly attorneys at 1 (773) 825-3547 to learn more about how we can help. Thanks, and we look forward to hearing from you.