An inquest into the suspected death of a 32-year-old Sydney man began last month.
man last seen six years ago has heard conflicting opinions about his diagnosis and care in the days before his suspected death.
It’s believed he then took his life at the same spot he was arrested at days earlier. CCTV from The Gap that evening showed a male there that matched his description.A police investigation and search commenced shortly after, but his body has never been found.t, came as a relief to his family, who have been waiting years for answers and a death certificate.
The adequacy of mental health procedures in the lead-up to the man’s suspected death were also scrutinised.Magistrate Joan Baptie opened the inquest on July 25 by sending the court’s condolences to the man’s family. The inquest heard that since April 4, 2017, there has been no record of the 32-year-old having accessed any of his bank accounts or government welfare.
The inquest heard the man had told doctors he took methamphetamine days before his admission on April 1, but Professor Mitchell said he questioned that timeline. He also told the inquest, in hindsight, and having seen that collateral information since, he would not change his decision to discharge the patient but agreed the use of a fax machine was problematic.
Professor Mitchell said he was aware of the diagnosis of a schizoaffective disorder but said on observation on the ward, “there was nothing to suggest ongoing psychotic illness”.In addition to the failed attempt to obtain information from the Hills Clinic, the inquest also heard during the man’s admission, there was no contact between the Kiloh Centre and his treating psychiatrist Dr Malik.
“I think the decision to discharge the patient does not come from diagnosis. I would think that hearing all the evidence, having the benefit in hindsight ... that it may not have led to a decision to further detain him in order to continue his treatment ... but I think it raises some questions about the form in which you discharge someone in the involvement of family and the involvement of support services,” he said.
Dr Ryan also told the inquest if it were the case that the team were to have understood that information hadn’t come back yet “it would be reasonable to let him leave rather than wait for the information”. In his evidence, Dr Malik told the inquest the man had never expressed that he didn’t want his family contacted and said his father had been his nominated support person at the Hills Clinic.
“It’s always good clinical practice to involve family members where it’s at all possible where it’s someone with illness in hospital,” he said.
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