David Duncan, a 42-year-old man with mental illness, tragically took his own life while in the care of the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise. During an inquest, his family expressed that their faith in mental health services had been irrevocably damaged. The investigation uncovered that the hospital failed to record critical warnings about his suicide risk while he was in a seclusion room that required continuous observation and had not conducted a necessary risk assessment on the safety of items like HSE-issued pyjamas.
The family of David Duncan expressed their devastation at the inquest, saying their trust in the psychiatric hospital was 'shattered' following his death, which they deemed unjust.
A representative from the HSE acknowledged the oversight in the monitoring of David Duncan, emphasizing the importance of accurate risk assessments in psychiatric settings.
The inquest revealed that David Duncan was placed in a seclusion room without sufficient precautions, despite him being previously identified as a suicide risk.
The HSE is currently reviewing procedures and protocols in response to the tragic death of David, indicating a potential change in safety practices for the mentally ill.
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