Mom: Hospital To Blame For Son’s Suicide

Sam · 11-16-2009, 08:30 PM

Only In the A-T-L

Mom: Hospital To Blame For Son’s Suicide
Posted: 3:42 pm EST November 16, 2009
Updated: 9:14 pm EST November 16, 2009

ATLANTA -- A mother has filed a lawsuit against Northside Hospital blaming it for the death of her son.
Meredith Carmichael wants to know why her son, who was taken to Northside Hospital more than a year ago and put under suicide watch, was able to shoot himself in the head with a gun he brought to the hospital.
READ: Suicide Lawsuit
"He was my only child, any mother would feel that way,” said Carmichael.
Carmichael's attorney, Don Keenan, said Frank Lindstrom, 44, was drinking and despondent following the breakup of relationship with a girlfriend and agreed to let police take him to Northside Hospital in Sept. 2008.
"Shortly after midnight, within being there just a matter of minutes, they put a suicide watch on him,” said Keenan,
Northside Hospital failed to follow established guidelines for at risk patients, which includes constant observation and search for weapons, and they didn’t find the .38 revolver he took the hospital, according to Keenan.
“A weapon this large, should have easily been found, was not, and he was in the hospital under that suicide watch for fully six hours,” said Keenan.
Keenan said that Lindstrom was alone in the examination room when he shot himself in the head. He died five days later.
“They could have prevented it, of course they could have. He cried out for help and they did not help him,” said Carmichael.
Lindstrom’s mother said he was not prone to depression and never had mentioned thoughts of suicide or any violent outbursts.
“He could have just as easy killed a doctor or a nurse or a patient. Thank God he didn’t do that,” said Carmichael.
Carmichael did not ask for specific damages. A spokesman for Northside Hospital said the hospital cannot comment on pending litigation.

11-16-2009, 08:30 PM	#1
Sam Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Permanently Banned 2/11/2011 Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: I'll let you know Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,131 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,101 Thanked 668 Times in 363 Posts Rep Power: 0	Mom: Hospital To Blame For Son’s Suicide Only In the A-T-L Mom: Hospital To Blame For Son’s Suicide Posted: 3:42 pm EST November 16, 2009 Updated: 9:14 pm EST November 16, 2009 ATLANTA -- A mother has filed a lawsuit against Northside Hospital blaming it for the death of her son. Meredith Carmichael wants to know why her son, who was taken to Northside Hospital more than a year ago and put under suicide watch, was able to shoot himself in the head with a gun he brought to the hospital. READ: Suicide Lawsuit "He was my only child, any mother would feel that way,” said Carmichael. Carmichael's attorney, Don Keenan, said Frank Lindstrom, 44, was drinking and despondent following the breakup of relationship with a girlfriend and agreed to let police take him to Northside Hospital in Sept. 2008. "Shortly after midnight, within being there just a matter of minutes, they put a suicide watch on him,” said Keenan, Northside Hospital failed to follow established guidelines for at risk patients, which includes constant observation and search for weapons, and they didn’t find the .38 revolver he took the hospital, according to Keenan. “A weapon this large, should have easily been found, was not, and he was in the hospital under that suicide watch for fully six hours,” said Keenan. Keenan said that Lindstrom was alone in the examination room when he shot himself in the head. He died five days later. “They could have prevented it, of course they could have. He cried out for help and they did not help him,” said Carmichael. Lindstrom’s mother said he was not prone to depression and never had mentioned thoughts of suicide or any violent outbursts. “He could have just as easy killed a doctor or a nurse or a patient. Thank God he didn’t do that,” said Carmichael. Carmichael did not ask for specific damages. A spokesman for Northside Hospital said the hospital cannot comment on pending litigation.