Assignment 5: Legal And Ethical
Assignment 5: Legal And Ethical
Judy, age 20, was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility for
acute depression and suicidal ideation. She had gone to the local
police station the previous afternoon, stating that she was suicidal.
The police transported her to the emergency center, and Judy
was admitted on a 24-hour emergency mental health hold. O n
admission, Judy was obviously depressed and stated that she was
still tormented with thoughts about killing herself. Later that
evening, the nurses heard a crash from Judy’s room and, upon
investigation, found her sitting on the bed with an overturned
chair next to the bed. She had torn her robe, tied the pieces
together as a rope, and fell from the chair as she was attempting
to tie the homemade rope to the ceiling. Judy was immediately
placed on a 15-minute observation protocol. The following
morning, the patient was still on observation every 15 minutes.
The nurse at that point determined that Judy was more coherent
and noted that Judy was disturbed by her appearance as she had
not bathed in some days. The nurse unlocked the bathroom door
so that Judy could shower. S oon after the bathroom door was
unlocked, Judy’s psychiatrist came to speak with her. She
remained with Judy for about 45 minutes, left the room, and
entered a charting area next
to the nurses’ station. The nurse caring for Judy did not see the
psychiatrist leave Judy’s room, nor did the psychiatrist inform the
nurse that Judy was now alone in her room. The nurse checked on
Judy approximately 15 minutes later. She found Judy hanging by
the belt of her bathrobe from the shower rod. Judy was in full

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