SALISBURY — The Maryland Court of Special Appeals this week ruled healthcare providers at PRMC could not be held liable for not admitting a man with mental problems, including suicidal thoughts and hallucinations, who was later shot and killed the same day in an apparent “suicide by cop” case.
In April 2009, family members brought Charles Williams, Jr. to PRMC for evaluation over concerns of his mental state after he allegedly was having suicidal thoughts and visual and auditory hallucinations. According to court documents, Williams also believed he was under a curse and exhibited other obsessive and unusual behavior. Williams was examined and evaluated at PRMC.
Although he was lucid and cooperative, Williams told healthcare providers he was experiencing hallucinations and suicidal thoughts. He also told his examiners he believed his ex-girlfriend had put a curse on him and that he experienced blindness when he looked at a text message sent from her while in the emergency room.
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30 comments:
I fail to understand, how PRMC is not responsible, for not properly treating a clearly impaired patient in need of care.
There should be no immunity for not doing your job, which results in a death.
Totally agree with 12:47PM
Did you all read the last paragraph?
"The complaint does not even allege, let alone provide facts to support the failure of the healthcare providers to act in good faith and with reasonable grounds"
First do no harm?
Totally agree with 12:47 and 1:54
Hmm, I thought that was Eric Holder, Barry Obama and Reverend Jackson at da club...
prmc cant be 100% when dealing with these wackos. if they are cooperative and dont exhibit any signs at the time of the evaluation that they need to be committed, then they get released. i have seen many people taken in there for evaluation that completely calm down and act normal or at least more normal then they were when they came in. plus, the police did a good job after his release, so it all worked out in the end. one less crazy person on the street that could possibly harm me or a family member.
Happens all the time with Emergency Petitions to the ER at PRMC. Give them some medication, the PERT Team is rid of them and they can move on. Bet his records were in someone's locker too.
You know, when a person is that far gone, there's really no bringing him back, and unless hospitals are allowed to euthanize, then this is the better choice.
Or, we could feed, house, and administer medication to him for the rest of his life...costing millions.
BOOM! DEAD. Thank you very much!
Law are very strict concerning involuntary commitment since the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional back in the
1970's.
Perfect example of what happens when the government sticks their nose in what should be a medical decision only.
It's only going to get worse with obamacare.
Such a cop out. What is wrong with this hospital? It tells him come back if you feel you will hurt yourself or someone else. Does this make sense? He was already there telling them that. They are so ignorant,negligent,uneducated and a disgrace to the medical profession and hurt more people.
For those who speak harshly of the mentally ill I would never wish a loved one on you who is suffering. BUT... you, with no heart or compassion, can at least pity someone who has a family member they love who is like this and there is nothing you can do to protect or stop that person. But for the grace of God go I.
Take the log out of your eye.
6:56-You need to go and verse yourself on the law. Emergency psychiatric facilities are governed by strict laws. An emergency evaluee can not be kept for more than 30 hours. They either have to be released unless they ask for voluntary commitment or treatment or meet the requirements mandated by law for involuntary admission.
Application for IVA has to be initiated by an interested party-family member. Accompanying the app has to be 2 certificates completed by 2 different doctors or 1 doctor and a psychologist. There's much more to the process besides this.
Because this has become such a legal process more than a medical one is the reason immunity is given to health care providers.
Dead men tell no tales.
An emergency petition in Maryland can hold a person for up to 10 days.
I cant believe all you people are agreeing with the lawsuit. What ever happened to being responsible for your actions. No No NO not the way anybody thinks anymore its always somebody else fault
The american way its there fault not mine
The law and this hospital does not help but hurts. You and I both know it is wrong.
Once upon a time, the law also stated that people of color did not have equal access to education and public places and had to go to aseparate schools and could not sit at the front of a bus.
In the same fashion this man was denied medical care he was in need of.
The cop shot him 15 times?
3:52-30 hours. Copied directly from Sheppard Pratt's website because I could find it quicker. Will direct you to the state statute if you like.
"In Maryland (laws vary from state to state) a licensed physician who has examined the patient, or a police officer who observes the dangerous behavior, may sign the Emergency Petition, and the police are authorized to take the person to the nearest appropriate emergency room for evaluation for up to 30 hours."
A bit of what is involved in having someone committed involuntarily. Maybe be where you got the 10 days number from 3:52.
"In Maryland (laws vary from state to state) two physicians or a physician and one psychologist listed in the National Register of Psychologists and licensed in Maryland may sign the certificates which require the person to be hospitalized. The doctors must have examined the patient within the week prior to signing the certificate. Once hospitalized the patient will be evaluated and treated. If the patient is not released he or she will have a Hearing with an Administrative Law Judge and an attorney ( A Public Defender will be appointed if necessary.). The Hearing will take place within the first 10 days of hospitalization, although the patient may agree once to a one week postponement of the hearing. If the Judge rules that all the criteria are met, the person becomes an Involuntary Patient, committed to the hospital for up to six months and can only be released by the treating doctor or by an appeal through the courts."
Just shoot 'em. My ex is a manic depressive and will be an idiot burden on her family and society until she dies. What an a$$hat. And she just LOVES the drugs they hand out. Mixed with a few bottles and ZOOM!
So glad to be out of that mess.
PRMC ER has a history of not helping those who are in serious need of psychiatric hospitalization. Its a crime to deny treatment, nothing but a discharge, left to escalate into a more severe crisis situation and left to deteriorate. This is unique to this hospital. In another region of MD or another state serious situations are handled differently, a person will be hospitalized receiving treatment. Don't tell me it cost too much. If your mother, father, sister or brother has Alzheimers, autism, PTSD or dementia you get them medical help. What is wrong with the ER at PRMC? Why is this allowed?
Please watch the video on the
Huffington Post.com webpage click
TEDTalks Weekends to view
: A New Voice In Mental Illness
very interesting and enlightneing
8:21 PRMC is not unique. Maryland as well as every other state in the nation have strict statues (laws) concerning what can and can not be done medically w/psychiatric patients. This is one of the reasons mental health professionals have immunity.
Let this be a lesson to whomever is in favor and supports obamacare. The government should not be involved in healthcare in anyway shape or form.
Have you been to a ER in a other state with a psychotic relative? Plenty of families on the shore will say-
It is known for its revolving door policy. Anyone in law enforcement will tell you-
PRMC is different in it does not get people into medical treatment that is needed. The ER discharges an excessive amount of people and those people are left unwell to deteriorate, often arrested and end up incarcerated in jail.
Do you know how hard it is to get someone to go to a hospital cooperatively and willingly with that condition?
This is really twisted because he was lucid and cooperative when he went into this hospital seeking help. I'm sure this family, when they entered the ER, had high hopes he would recover. I'm traumatized just reading about it.
In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act" (George Orwell)
Sorry, no sympathy here.
Married to M/D; veteran. She'd be better off buried in the back yard, and so would the rest of us. Loved one or not, when her sole purpose in life turned to destroy the family, household, finances, and put our very lives in danger, she was no longer a "loved one". She made herself the enemy of our family, and deserved to be exiled.
The hospital tried for 8 years. Psychiatrists, psycologists, meds; all abused.
Bye, bye, honey!
This guy was not your wife or your situation.
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