Professional Negligence Law Reporter

Doe, a 36-year-old Army veteran who had served three overseas deployments, suffered from PTSD. After his third suicide attempt, he was hospitalized at a VA hospital. The following year, he attempted suicide again. This led to multiple visits to VA providers for counseling and suicide risk evaluations over the course of several years.

Subsequently, Doe was seen speeding and driving back and forth down a highway. After he crashed, police responded to the scene and determined that he was in psychological distress. They transported Doe to the McGuire VA Medical Center ER, where a psychiatry resident interviewed him and discharged him after the attending psychiatrist signed off. Hours later, Doe died by suicide. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Suit against the United States alleged that VA providers had failed to adequately evaluate Doe’s condition and admit him for appropriate care and treatment. Suit claimed that the resident failed to review Doe’s psychiatry records and that the attending psychiatrist had failed to personally evaluate Doe before his discharge.

The parties settled for $900,000.

Citation: Doe v. United States, Confidential Dkt. No. (Confidential Jxn. & Ct. July 26, 2023).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ member Brewster S. Rawls, Richmond, Va.