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Case ref:201706197
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Date:November 2018
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Body:A Medical Practice in the Tayside NHS Board area
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Sector:Health
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Outcome:Not upheld, no recommendations
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Subject:clinical treatment / diagnosis
Summary
Mr C and Ms C complained about the care and treatment provided to their late son (Mr A) and about the practice's response to their complaint. Mr A had a history of mental ill-health and attended his GP practice concerned about a deterioration in his mental health. Shortly after his last attendance at the practice, Mr A completed suicide. Mr C and Ms C were concerned that the GP who cared for Mr A failed unreasonably to recognise that he was at significant risk of suicide and refer him immediately for psychiatric in-patient care.
We took independent advice from a GP adviser. We found that the standard of medical care and treatment provided to Mr A in the weeks leading up to his death was reasonable and that his death could not have been predicted or avoided by the GP. We also found that the practice responded to Mr C and Ms C's complaint reasonably. We did not uphold either complaint.