I don't think Tim meant that, to be fair. He was simply saying that
competence - in general - ideally should be assessed early on. But I agree
that suicidal ideation, per se, does not equate to incompetence. And I agree
that many people use suicidal ideation - incorrectly - as a surrogate for
incompetence.
Julian, I suspect Tim's offer is a good way forward. I seem to recall the
South Yorkshire coroner is very high profile, rarely out of the news since
Shipman etc. Not a man to mess about with!
AF
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jel Coward" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 4:08 AM
Subject: Re: Psychiatric patients leaving the emergency department
> Coats Tim - Professor of Emergency Medicine wrote:
>> First decision is whether or not patient is competent to take their own
>> decisions.
>
> ahh, but should we use those 'decisions' as an indicator of whether the
> patient is competent to make their own decisions.
>
> My point being that a decision to end one's own life might be made by a
> fully competent person - and that intent alone, perhaps, should not be
> used to rule them incompetent .....but it is often used to do that, in my
> experience.
>
> A difficult area.
>
> Regards all
>
>
> Jel
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