Wife Commits Suicide, Husband Blamed for Not Providing Medical Care

A husband sued a psychiatric clinic because they did not see his wife, who later committed suicide. However, the court decided the husband was partially responsible for her death by not bringing her to the emergency department, as advised. From the New York Daily News:

A Brooklyn man bears responsibility for his wife's suicide because he failed to take her to a shrink, a judge ruled in a potential landmark decision.

Alexander Sklyarsky had a "duty to provide medical aid to his wife" before she jumped to her death from the fire escape of their Brooklyn apartment five years ago, according to state Supreme Court Justice Gerard Rosenberg.

Legal experts told the New York Law Journal that the ruling could complicate caregiving decisions by opening the door to lawsuits between spouses.

Technorati Tags: Depression, Suicide, News from New York