Seattle Negligent Medical Care Leading to Suicide
Though the Department of Defense (DoD) has an obligation to support the mental health of active duty military and veterans, statistics reveal a significant gap between treatment efforts and suicide rates. The Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Office reports that the number of current personnel who have taken their own lives has almost doubled from 2008 to 2020. Suicide does not represent moral failure, but it may be the tragic outcome when health care providers do not meet the standard of care expected of them.
If your family was affected by negligent medical care leading to suicide, you do have access to legal remedies for recovering compensation. With decades of combined experience representing active duty troops and veterans, our team at Bertling Law Group is prepared to seek the monetary damages you deserve. Please contact our firm to set up a free consultation with a Seattle military medical malpractice attorney who can explain details. Some background information may also be useful.
What Families Need to Know About Medical Negligence Claims for Suicide
Failure to prevent suicide is a type of medical malpractice case, but there are a few points you should keep in mind regarding your legal remedies:
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) covers cases involving current service members, and surviving family members file a claim with the respective branch. The Secretary of Defense can authorize claims up to $100,000, while the Secretary of the Treasury must review and approve higher amounts. The decision of officials is final, so you cannot take your claim to court.
When a veteran takes his or her own life, the remedy is through the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). You must go through the administrative process and attempt to work out a settlement agreement first, but the next step is filing a lawsuit in court if officials refuse to pay a fair sum.
With both NDAA and FTCA, the standard of proof is generally the same. You must show that the military doctor or VA physician failed to take reasonable steps to prevent suicide, when they knew or should have known there was a risk.
Damages for Preventable Suicide
Bertling Law Group will manage the legal process for FTCA and NDAA claims, from gathering evidence and completing claims forms to working out settlement. It is the goal of our Seattle military medical malpractice attorneys to ensure you receive proper monetary damages for medical negligence leading to suicide. The details vary, but surviving family members may be entitled to:
- Funeral and burial costs;
- Emotional distress;
- Lost income and financial contributions; and
- Losses related to education, love, guidance, and support.
Consult with a SeattleMilitary Medical Malpractice Lawyer for Free
For more information about your rights in a case for negligent medical care leading to suicide, please call 844-25-7558 or go online to reach Bertling Law Group. We can schedule a no-cost case review to hear your story. Once we evaluate your circumstances, our team can advise you on remedies and discuss strategies for recovering compensation.
