Citation

Passos ADF, Rocha FL, Hara C, Paulino N. J. Bras. Psiquiatr. 2009; 58(1): 49-51.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Instituto De Psiquiatria)

DOI

10.1590/S0047-20852009000100008

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The authors relate a case of suicide where experts concluded that there had been a medical error. A woman was seen by a physician and admitted to a psychiatric hospital. The doctor's notes described the patient as having a severe depressive episode, with ideas of helplessness and worthlessness and suicidal intention. The patient committed suicide. Brazilian law dictated the opening of a police investigation. The experts responsible for the report concluded that a medical error had possibly been committed: the patient had been left unaccompanied and the therapeutic conduct was not incisive enough in relation to the severity of the episode, as described in the patient's record.

Language: pt

Keywords

adult; human; Brazil; suicide; Suicide; female; Psychiatry; case report; suicidal ideation; depression; helplessness; medical error; article; patient care; mental hospital; Medical error