Families place an immense amount of trust in inpatient addiction treatment facilities. When a loved one enters a center for help, there is a fundamental expectation of safety and professional oversight during their most vulnerable moments. Sadly, many facilities fail to honor this profound responsibility.
The Case in Brief
Our client placed her loved one in the care of an addiction treatment provider after being assured he would receive “24/7 medically supervised” detox in a safe and controlled environment. At the time of admission, the patient had a documented recent suicide attempt, severe depression, and active withdrawal symptoms, facts the facility knew or should have known required heightened monitoring and protection. Instead, the facility admitted him, minimized his suicide risk, failed to obtain critical psychiatric records, and ignored basic safety measures designed to prevent self-harm.
Within 72 hours, the patient was found dead in his room, having taken his own life using a phone charging cord that staff had been specifically asked to confiscate at intake. This tragedy was entirely foreseeable and preventable. The evidence showed systemic failures in supervision, staffing, and compliance with even fundamental safety protocols, failures that placed a high-risk patient in danger at the very moment he needed protection the most.
We alleged claims for wrongful death, elder abuse, and other violations. The case resulted in a settlement of $3.5 million.
MSD’s Perspective
Regarding the critical safety failures involved in this case, MSD Partner Arash Sadat commented:
“Tragically, this case is not an isolated example. We see cases like this every day. It reflects a broader pattern in the addiction treatment industry in which facilities market safety and supervision but fail to deliver when patients are at their most vulnerable. When a facility takes custody of someone in crisis, cutting corners on basic safety measures isn’t just negligence. It’s a life-or-death decision.”
Seeking Justice for Your Loved One
Losing a family member to negligence is a devastating experience, and navigating the legal aftermath can feel impossible while you are grieving. If you believe a treatment facility or healthcare provider failed to protect your loved one, you deserve answers.
Our team is dedicated to holding these institutions accountable nationwide, ensuring that no other family has to endure a similar tragedy.
Contact MSD Lawyers today for a confidential, no-cost consultation. No matter where you are located in the country, we will listen to your story, evaluate your case, and help you understand your legal options.
Please note: Every case is unique, and prior case results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome for future cases.
