Woman's Estate Sues Over Suicide at Connecticut Psychiatric Hospital

From this report in the Danbury News Times

The Rev. Dale Rosenberger remembers his friend Ruth Farrell as "a lost soul in whom light still shone."

Farrell, who was a Ridgefield resident, died nearly six years ago, and her death has become the subject of a malpractice suit brought by David Kervick, the executor of her estate, against Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan and Farrell's psychiatrist there, Dr. Ellyn Shander.

Farrell, who was 41 when she died, reportedly committed suicide Jan. 28, 2002, while a patient at Silver Hill. She was found hanging from a bathroom door, according to court documents.

The suit -- believed to be only the second such one in Connecticut history filed against a hospital following a patient's suicide -- is now before a jury in Stamford Superior Court.

[...] court documents reveal Farrell had been a patient at Silver Hill Hospital "on various occasions" since 1999.

Over those years, she exhibited "suicidal behavior" and made suicide attempts, according to the suit. The hospital and her psychiatrist should have been aware that she was at risk, the suit alleges.

In response to the suit, Silver Hill Hospital denies Farrell was a suicide risk at the time of her admission in January 2002 and claims in court documents that it was Kervick's "abusive" relationship with Farrell that drove her to suicide.

Danbury attorney Gregory Klein, who is not involved in the case, spoke generally about similar cases.

He noted that in reviewing the state of Connecticut Judicial Branch Web site, he found only two cases, including Kervick's, of a patient or patient's estate suing a hospital for malpractice after a suicide.

Klein cited a similar case "where a doctor who was the victim of childhood sexual abuse hanged herself while committed to the hospital." The plaintiff's estate was compensated in that case, Klein said.

"Places like Silver Hill are entrusted to care for and manage people who cannot do it for themselves," he said. "When there is known suicidal ideation, the hospital's responsibility is to be vigilant in taking all steps necessary to prevent that outcome."

Silver Hill is a 76-year-old nonprofit hospital specializing in treating psychiatric disorders and substance abuse. It sits on 45 acres that include walking trails and tennis courts.

It has treated celebrities like Billy Joel and Mariah Carey in its country club-like setting.

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