Bronia Hartley represents family of Melvyn Blount who took his life after the onset of an acute episode of mental ill-health

Bronia Hartley, instructed by Leigh Day, represented the family of Melvyn Blount (known as Mel) who took his life after the onset of an acute episode of mental ill-health. 

HM Assistant Coroner Susan Evans found that there were missed opportunities by Mel’s GP practice in the days before his death to explore whether he was suffering an acute psychotic episode, to refer him to the crisis team or A&E and to warn his family not to leave him alone. These missed opportunities were found to have contributed to Mel’s death. 

The Coroner issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report in relation to the GP surgery’s practices in relation to warning patients about the potential side effects of medication. The inquest heard that Mel was not told about a drug alert which included information relating to the potentially increased risk of suicidal ideation in patients taking the sedative/hypnotic sleep medication that he was prescribed four days before his death.

Further detail can be found here.