The Case
A young woman died by suicide after her mental health provider prescribed powerful psychiatric medications remotely for approximately nine months without seeing her in person.
During that time, her treatment was managed through email. The provider did not meet with her face-to-face to evaluate how she was doing or whether her condition was worsening.
The standard of care in psychiatry requires in-person visits. Providers must be able to visually assess a patient’s appearance, demeanor, and physical condition to determine whether medications are effective or whether changes are needed.
We alleged that this failure to provide appropriate psychiatric monitoring contributed directly to her death in this wrongful death claim.
The Defense
The defense raised a legal argument specific to Virginia. Suicide is illegal under state law, and they claimed this barred any recovery.
To overcome that position, we had to prove that the young woman was not of sound mind at the time of her death. We alleged that her mental illness, inadequately treated due to the provider’s negligence, deprived her of the capacity to make a rational decision.
This type of defense strategy can arise in medical malpractice cases involving psychiatric care and questions of legal responsibility.
The Resolution
The case settled for $775,000.
The settlement reflected the allegations that basic standards of psychiatric care were not followed, including the failure to evaluate the patient in person while prescribing serious medications over an extended period.
No settlement can undo the loss that made the case necessary. The resolution provided financial support to the family and accountability for the alleged breakdown in care.
Why These Cases Matter
Mental health treatment requires regular contact, careful monitoring, and the ability to recognize when a patient is deteriorating. Remote communication alone cannot replace in-person evaluation when powerful psychiatric medications are involved.
Cases like this highlight the importance of following established standards in psychiatric care, especially when a patient may be vulnerable or at risk.
Families facing the loss of a loved one under similar circumstances often have questions about whether more could have been done. If you believe negligent medical care contributed to a death, contact us to discuss your situation. We handle these cases on a contingency basis—there is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.