A 50-year-old man with a history of adult-onset bipolar disorder, often with paranoia, had a psychotic episode on August 4, 2022 at which time he was reportedly found to be smashing windows, likely triggered by a plumbing failure that caused flooding in his home. When police arrived, the man was found outside half-naked, yelling and smashing his car windows. Police reported that the man’s house was disorganized, his basement and bathroom were flooded, and spoiled food, old meat, and cat food were “all over the house.” The man reportedly told police that he was suicidal.
The man was transported to the hospital where his behavior was erratic at times (on one occasion he allegedly disrobed and enter other patients’ rooms; on another occasion he allegedly was found banging on the window and stripping naked).
The Connecticut medical malpractice wrongful death complaint alleges that the man was mechanically restrained for more the 165 hours during his eight-day hospitalization that resulted in his death (i.e., more than 85% of the time he was hospitalized). The lawsuit alleges that medical staff failed to remove the restraints once the man no longer exhibited the behaviors that required the use of restraints. The Connecticut wrongful death lawsuit further alleges that there were only 23 orders for restraints in the hospital record despite federal regulations that require that restraint orders for adult patients be renewed every four hours (there should have been 41 restraint orders for the amount of time the man was restrained).
An autopsy performed by the Connecticut chief medical examiner reportedly concluded that the man died of “pulmonary thromboembolism due to deep venous thrombosis complicating medical restraint for acute bipolar disorder episode.” Two of the plaintiff’s medical experts fault the defendants for failing to consider or offer anticoagulation therapy to prevent blood clots.
The Connecticut medical malpractice wrongful death lawsuit named as defendants Hartford Healthcare Corp., Hartford Hospital and the Institute of Living, and nine doctors who allegedly acted as agents, apparent agents, and/or employees of Hartford Healthcare.
Despite the man’s mental health issues, he reportedly graduated summa cum laude from the University of Hartford in 1996, and he received his masters degree cum laude in finance and economics from the University of South Florida. He worked as a financial analyst for several banks and corporations, was a musician, enjoyed playing tennis, pool and softball, and was a 700-Series league bowler, according to his obituary.
A spokeswoman for Hartford HealthCare Corp., the parent company of Hartford Hospital and the Institute of Living, said in a statement, “Our heartfelt thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family at this time. We are unable to provide further comment on pending litigation.”
If you or a loved one suffered serious harm as a result of mental health negligence in Connecticut or in another U.S. state, you should promptly find a Connecticut medical malpractice lawyer, or a medical malpractice lawyer in your state, who may investigate your mental health malpractice claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a mental health malpractice case, if appropriate.
Visit our website or call us toll-free in the United States at 800-295-3959 to find medical malpractice attorneys in your state who may assist you.
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