Suicide Antidepressant 23/09/2010 England Man Judged By Docs To Not Be Mentally Ill is Given A/D's: Kills Self
Suicide Antidepressant 2010-09-23 England Man Judged By Docs To Not Be Mentally Ill is Given A/D's: Kills Self

http://www.ssristories.com/show.php?item=4524

Summary:

Paragraph four reads:  "The court heard how on April 16 the 52-year-old died of carbon monoxide poisoning at his home after it is believed he purposely reconfigured the gas supply from his boiler."

Paragraph eight reads:  "After three assessments, doctors decided he was not suffering from a mental illness."

"He stayed at the patient unit of the clinic in March, where he was prescribed anti-depressants, and was discharged four days later."


http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/north-warwickshire-news/2010/09/23/family-of-atherstone-man-who-killed-himself-blame-his-doctors-at-inquest-92746-27324360/


Family of Atherstone man who killed himself blame his doctors at inquest

Sep 23 2010 by Tina Junday, Coventry Telegraph


THE
family of an Atherstone man who committed suicide by poisoning himself with carbon monoxide say he was let down by doctors who did not section him.

Martin Bruford, of Knowle Hill, Hurley, near Atherstone, made a series of visits to a mental health clinic but was deemed not to be suffering from a mental illness.

His family now say they intend to take action against the health authority after a verdict of suicide was recorded at an inquest at Coventry Magistrates Court yesterday.

The court heard how on April 16 the 52-year-old died of carbon monoxide poisoning at his home after it is believed he purposely reconfigured the gas supply from his boiler.

He was found in his upstairs bedroom by his stepson Kevin Roath.

Mr Bruford had been living alone after separating from his wife and had made a voluntary visit to the Avenue Clinic, in Nuneaton, to seek help because he felt distressed and worried about his future.

After three assessments, doctors decided he was not suffering from a mental illness.

He stayed at the patient unit of the clinic in March, where he was prescribed anti-depressants, and was discharged four days later.

Dr Olubukola Awodiya, a psychiatrist at the clinic, said: "He was seen by three different
doctors and each of the assessments found he did not have a mental illness."

"He said that he was distressed and worried about his future. However, he said he was quite keen to keep in touch with his children.

"I saw him myself on March 23. His appearance didn't give me any worry. He said he wanted his mother to look after him. Very quickly he got back into the swing of things."

She added: "We would identify any mental health illness by looking to see if that person was suicidal and if they were depressed. It's a very sad situation. My sense of it was Mr Bruford needed help and he asked for help and he did get help."

But speaking about her husband after the inquest, Wendy Bruford said that rather than receiving help he had been let down.

"He should have been sectioned. He needed help and he asked for help and he was let down," she said.

"Three of his young children and five step-children are without a father. He needed help and he wasn't given it.

"He became very unstable and had suddenly changed. He wasn't the same person I had married. He lost a lot of weight and tried to starve himself.

"The health authority are to blame and I'll be taking action against them."

Stepson Mr Roath said: "Martin would talk about taking his own life every now and then but I told him it was stupid and would be no good for his kids."