INQUIRY UNDER THE FATAL ACCIDENTS AND INQUIRIES (SCOTLAND) ACT 1976 INTO THE SUDDEN DEATH OF FRASER JOHN O'DONNELL [2012] ScotSC 31 (07 March 2012)

INQUIRY UNDER THE FATAL ACCIDENTS AND INQUIRIES (SCOTLAND) ACT 1976 INTO THE SUDDEN DEATH OF FRASER JOHN O'DONNELL [2012] ScotSC 31 (07 March 2012)

On the evidence, it was not established that any act or omission by health or ambulance staff, or any defect in systems, caused or contributed to Fraser's death. No reasonable precautions were identified whereby the death might have been avoided, nor were any relevant defects in working systems or other relevant facts established under the statutory criteria.

Citation
[2012] ScotSC 31
Parties
Deceased: Fraser John O'Donnell; Procurator Fiscal Depute: Mrs Dunipace; Representative for M/s Hill (mother): Mr Fordyce; Representative for Dr Marshall (gp): Miss Ritchie; Representative for Scottish Ambulance Service: Mr Paterson; Representative for Greater Glasgow Health Board: Mr Khurana
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Judgment Date
07 March 2012
Procedural Posture
Fatal Accident Inquiry / Determination
Outcome
No findings under sections 6(1)(c)-(e) of the Act; cause of death determined as suicide by impact with a train; no reasonable precautions or defects in system established as causative.
Legal Topics
Suicide, Mental Health Assessment, Hospital Protocol, Clinical Supervision, Patient Handover, Community Mental Health Services
Public Health Law Mental Health Law Medical Negligence Suicide Mental Health Assessment Hospital Protocol Clinical Supervision Patient Handover +1 more

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Parties

Fraser John O'Donnell

Deceased

Mrs Dunipace

Procurator Fiscal Depute

Mr Fordyce

Representative for M/s Hill (mother)

Miss Ritchie

Representative for Dr Marshall (gp)

Mr Paterson

Representative for Scottish Ambulance Service

Mr Khurana

Representative for Greater Glasgow Health Board

Procedural Posture

Fatal Accident Inquiry / Determination

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether there were reasonable precautions whereby the death might have been avoided
  2. 2 Whether there were defects in any system of working which contributed to the death
  3. 3 Whether any other facts were relevant to the circumstances of the death

Ratio Decidendi

On the evidence, it was not established that any act or omission by health or ambulance staff, or any defect in systems, caused or contributed to Fraser's death. No reasonable precautions were identified whereby the death might have been avoided, nor were any relevant defects in working systems or other relevant facts established under the statutory criteria.

Court Disposition

No findings under sections 6(1)(c)-(e) of the Act; cause of death determined as suicide by impact with a train; no reasonable precautions or defects in system established as causative.