Friday, 6th November 2009 - 13:59CET
Psychiatrist cleared of involuntary homicide
A psychiatrist who had prescribed pills to a Mount Carmel patient was this morning found not guilty of the woman’s involuntary homicide.
The woman who had been suffering from depression had overdosed on around 90 pills that psychiatrist Anthony Mangion had prescribed for her in 2001.
She had suffered a serious bout and was taken to the hospital on September 15, 2001. Two days later she was sent home after Dr Mangion, her psychiatrist for 15 years, had examined her and gave her a prescription for six pills a day for 15 days.
But on the day she was discharged, her son called his father and said that his mother had swallowed around 90 pills.
They took her to Mount Carmel on her insistence but, on their arrival, she lost consciousness and was rushed to St Luke’s Hospital. She died in the intensive care unit a day later.
During a magisterial enquiry, the woman’s husband testified that his wife had a history of overdoses, but the psychiatrist said he did not know this.
In his judgement this morning, Magistrate Antonio Mizzi that from the evidence produced, there was nothing to suggest that the accused had not acted according to practice and he had not been negligent.
RSS
Comments
You're right. What is disturbing also is that no one has noticed this.
A court case is made up of many players. Have you not heard of lawyers not turning up, or the defendents being unable to attend or postponements requested for soem reason or other?? The system itself is crazy especially where lawyers have to be in two courts at the same time. so to start blaming persons who are not to blame is very unfair
Imn 'Alla m'intix mhallef Sur Joseph Schembri !!!
Years of legal expenses and time wasted, slogging into Valletta to give evidence or attend a hearing which is often cancelled with NO NOTICE (yes, in 2009, with all the gadgets and tools available to communicate and inform). Postponements, no-shows, delays, exaggerated deferrals, evidence lost, memories fading......what a disgraceful mess.
All the hype and promises about court reforms have not changed much, have they? To the ordinary citizen, our legal system is a maze of contradictions, disservice, expense and frustration. Efficiency, transparency, accountability, productivity and service standards are a distant dream. Ask anyone. "Il-Qorti taf meta tidhol biss!", jghidulek. And they're 100% right
Why is this unacceptable state of affairs allowed to persist?
Magistrates should be held accountable for this because they are king/queen in their courtrooms but at the end of the day they are there to serve society.