Something terrible happened over the weekend at the hospital I do clinical at. A man (who just so happens to be a neighbor of mine) had been severely depressed over the farm accident death of his 11 year old son. He had a drinking prob and was too hung over to go to the field, so he sent his son out to do it. The tractor flipped and killed him instantly. He had been doing odd things (like having a beer party at his house 2 days after burying his son). The family had taken all the guns out of the house, but he was looking for a handgun from people.
Anyhoo, the county police chaptered him last weekend after he threatened his wife. They took him to the Psych ward on a Saturday night, and on Sunday morning, he pulled a small pistol (berringer? sorry, don't know guns) out of who knows where and blew his brains out.
Ok, few questions here. I know obviously the police are at fault (they said they searched him...?) b/c of the gun. Is the hospital at fault at all? Personally, I think if he is chaptered and in custody, the nursing staff shouldn't have to do gun searches. Also, this hospital lets them wear what they came in with, just no shoes. Are all places like this?
My mom used to work there when they let them keep their shoes and walked in on a guy who had hung himself. This was back in the late 60's. What do you all think? I had thought briefly about working in psych, but if the police can't stop someone from bringing in guns.....:chair:
