Mental illness isn’t the usual thing you hear about in a medical malpractice suit, but it does happen. Psychiatrists are just as liable for the errors they make in their practice as any other medical doctor. Here’s an example of a case where mental health treatment went bad.
A man with a history of psychosis was receiving treatment when his doctor left the practice. His treatment was transferred to a new doctor and a nurse practitioner. They adjusted his medication and dosages. He was taken off of Geodon, a drug that treats schizophrenia and some bipolar symptoms, and placed on Seroquel, a similar drug.
The man believed the Seroquel was making him anxious, but it was the Geodon causing the symptoms. Geodon must be stopped slowly. He made calls to the office to tell them something was going wrong. When he started to break down, his parents continued the calls. No one answered.
By the time someone did answer, the man had killed his father during a psychotic break. He was charged with murder and was found guilty by reason of insanity and committed to an institution where he receives treatment. Now he is suing the practice for punitive and compensatory damages.
If someone makes an error in your healthcare, physical or mental, they must make recompense for the mistakes they’ve made. If you feel you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice, contact Schenk Smith, LLC for a free consultation.
