Inadequate Psychiatric Supervision Claims
If you have lost a loved one to suicide despite them being placed under the care of psychiatric inpatient facilities for their own safety, or they have survived a suicide attempt or episode of self-harm when they should have been under supervision, you are entitled to investigate how this was allowed to happen. When negligent care was the cause, JMW Solicitors will help you to take legal action and make a claim for compensation.
Our clinical negligence solicitors can bring an inadequate psychiatric supervision compensation claim on your behalf and we will also arrange inquest representation for you where necessary. We understand this can be an extremely difficult time, and that the prospect of taking legal action may not be your first priority. However, bringing a medical negligence claim can help you find out what went wrong and why.
Speak to our friendly and sympathetic team of solicitors about your options today by calling us on 0345 872 6666, or by completing our online enquiry form to request a call back. We can provide no win, no fee legal services.
How JMW Can Help
If you have suffered the loss of a loved one following negligent care while they were a psychiatric inpatient, or they have caused harm to themselves when they should have been supervised, we can help you take legal action and hold those responsible to account.
Our lawyers have a great deal of expertise in cases of suicide and attempted suicide following inadequate care and monitoring in psychiatric units. We understand how important it is that you feel your best interests are being protected, and are committed to providing the best possible outcome for your family.
The clinical negligence solicitors at JMW are known for their professional, sympathetic approach and are highly regarded throughout the UK. Our team includes members of the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) solicitor panel and the Law Society's specialist panel for clinical negligence, underlining their industry-leading expertise.
How to Make a Claim for Inadequate Psychiatric Supervision
If failures or negligence on the part of those responsible for your loved one’s psychiatric supervision have contributed to their suicide or self-harm, you should be given the opportunity to find answers and try to ensure that lessons are learned.
Going through the investigation and inquest processes should give you a better understanding of what happened and help you move on with your life. It can also provide you with compensation, reflecting:
- The cost of funeral expenses
- The pain and suffering caused
- Loss of future earnings
- Other financial losses caused by the death
By contacting JMW’s clinical negligence team, we will open up an investigation into the circumstances involved in your loved one’s death or attempted suicide, analysing the standard of psychiatric supervision and establishing whether this played a role in their actions.
We will represent your interests at every stage of the inquest process, provide you with legal representation during hearings and work to provide the best possible outcome for your circumstances.
FAQs
- What is psychiatric supervision?
People facing serious mental health crises may require psychiatric supervision in hospital, through inpatient mental health services. This is usually the case when the person in question is severely self-harming, at risk of acting on suicidal thoughts, or potentially poses a risk to those around them.
While in hospital, patients should be given access to medication, talking therapies and the ongoing support of trained medical staff, while being provided with structured care, activities and observation. This is designed to offer a break from their day-to-day problems, while ensuring they are being constantly looked after during vulnerable moments.
Many of those undergoing psychiatric supervision in a hospital are there voluntarily, but in serious cases, some patients may be detained (or “sectioned”) in hospital under the Mental Health Act when professionals agree they pose a danger to themselves or others.
- What are the signs of inadequate psychiatric supervision?
When the quality of inpatient care for mental health patients is substandard, it can be extremely harmful to the patient and make their symptoms worse, or even potentially reinforce their suicidal thoughts.
A 2018 report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman highlighted five common failings in the standard of mental health care provided to patients:
- Failing to correctly diagnose or treat patients
- Discharging patients inappropriately or failing to provide them with the right aftercare
- Poor risk assessments and safety practices within the facility, putting patients in danger
- Failing to treat patients with the proper dignity or respect for their human rights
- Poor communication with the patient, their family or their carers
If any of these failings were found to have played a role in the death of your loved one, you may be able to make a claim for compensation on the basis of clinical negligence.
Talk to Us
Contact our team of medical negligence solicitors today to find out how we can assist you with your inadequate psychiatric supervision claim on a no win, no fee basis. Call us on 0345 872 6666, or complete our online enquiry form if you would prefer us to contact you at a time of your choosing.
