San Francisco Suicide Malpractice Attorney

When Gross Negligence Contributes to Patient Suicide in California

There are clear warning signs when an individual suffers from suicidal tendencies. In such cases, it is the responsibility of a medical provider to act in any way necessary to prevent the patient from harming him or herself. When a physician does not provide requisite care that would prevent the individual from harm, the physician may be guilty of medical malpractice.

Additionally, suicide has recently been linked to a class of drugs designed to treat clinical depression. These medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Unfortunately, these drugs may have the opposite effect, especially in adolescent patients. Recently, SSRIs have been the subject of scrutiny by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and by private physicians for their possible to link to suicide among patients. It has been proven that these drugs can, when administered or prescribed incorrectly, lead to suicidal tendencies among a patient that result in the patient taking his or her own life. The brand names of the most commonly prescribed SSRI drugs in America are Paxil® and Prozac®.

The Duty of Medical Providers

Medical professionals often see signs of suicide in patients and it is their medical duty to act on that knowledge. Whether it is a direct statement from a patient or symptoms noticed in an appointment, medical staff owes the patient, and their families, a duty of care to report and prevent possible suicide. Failing to notice obvious symptoms or neglecting to act on direct reports must be addressed in a lawsuit filed against the negligent medical professional. A caring and knowledgeable member of our firm can help you file a medical malpractice suit if you believe the suicide of your loved one could have been prevented by a medical provider.

Strong Advocacy for Victims

Our firm, Bostwick & Peterson, LLP, strives to provide all the necessary legal tools to support you during this tough time. The pain and suffering you have been forced to endure should be compensated by the negligent party. We place such a large amount of trust in our medical professionals and it is their duty to provide their patients with correct diagnoses and to act on noticed symptoms. We can help you collect all the evidence needed to file a claim against the negligent doctor. You deserve to be compensated for your loss when the danger of suicide was present and nothing was done to prevent it.