Mental health inpatient facility the Spencer Clinic cleared of blame in wake of patient’s suicide

A Burnie mental health facility has been cleared of blame after a patient died by suicide while on day release. The coroner’s findings >>

The Spencer Clinic located at Burnie’s North West Regional Hospital.

A Burnie mental health facility has been cleared of blame after a patient died by suicide while on day release.

The 45-year-old man, whose name has not been released, died at his home in February 2021 during a stint as a voluntary inpatient at the Spencer Clinic.

The Spencer Clinic is the mental health inpatient facility at the North West Regional Hospital.

In her newly-published findings, Coroner Olivia McTaggart said the man – a commercial fisherman – had made multiple attempts on his life in the past, including four previous attempts in early 2021.

The North West Regional Hospital. Picture: AAP Image/Simon Sturzaker

After the fourth occasion, he was admitted to the Spencer Clinic as a voluntary patient.

Ms McTaggart said during his six days at the clinic, he “engaged well with treatment”, his “mood was reasonable” and he denied feeling suicidal.

He was assessed as having reasonable judgement and insight, with his medication adjusted and arrangements made for him to be treated through an alcohol withdrawal program.

As part of his treatment and discharge planning, it was arranged the man would have two days of day leave.

On the second day of his day leave, the man was found deceased at his home by his mother.

Ms McTaggart said the investigation into the man’s death examined whether he should have been able to take day leave, and whether his family should have been formally notified of his day release by Spencer Clinic staff.

She said some of his family members believed his day release was “inappropriate in light of his level of risk”.

The Spencer Clinic located at Burnie’s North West Regional Hospital.

But Ms McTaggart said it was “quite clear” the man was a “voluntary patient with decision-making capacity”.

“He was not involuntarily detained at the Spencer Clinic and was permitted to discharge himself at any time,” she said.

“Secondly, it was appropriate for the health professionals treating (him) to plan for his re-entry into the community by providing day leave. He had been appropriately assessed as having a sufficiently low risk of self-harm to enable that to occur.”

The coroner also said the man’s brother and mother were aware of his day release arrangements.

She said the man’s suicide could not have been predicted on that day, that day release was appropriate, and that he had sufficient support from family members and others.

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Originally published as Mental health inpatient facility the Spencer Clinic cleared of blame in wake of patient’s suicide