Killer’s psychiatrist can be sued by victim’s family, Washington Supreme Court says

[Disir]

The family of a Spokane woman who was murdered along with her son can pursue a lawsuit over whether the killer’s psychiatrist should have done more to protect them, the Washington Supreme Court held in a case with implications for mental-health professionals around the state.

Rebecca Schiering and one of her sons, Phillip, were shot by her ex-fiance, Jan DeMeerleer, in 2010. DeMeerleer, who also wounded another of Schiering’s sons in the attack, then returned to his own home and killed himself.

Schiering’s family sued the killer’s psychiatrist, Dr. Howard Ashby, and Spokane Psychiatric Clinic, alleging they were negligent in their treatment of DeMeerleer and that they should have done more to protect the victims. Ashby knew his patient had previously expressed homicidal and suicidal ideas, but found no “real clinical problem” in their most recent meeting, three months before the killings.

In a 6-3 opinion, the Supreme Court held Thursday that the lawsuit can go forward. The majority said mental-health professionals must act with reasonable care to identify and mitigate the dangerousness of psychiatric patients.
Killer’s psychiatrist can be sued by victim’s family, Washington Supreme Court says

I'm not sure Ashby could have foresaw something 3 months down the line.

 

[Coyote]

The family of a Spokane woman who was murdered along with her son can pursue a lawsuit over whether the killer’s psychiatrist should have done more to protect them, the Washington Supreme Court held in a case with implications for mental-health professionals around the state.

Rebecca Schiering and one of her sons, Phillip, were shot by her ex-fiance, Jan DeMeerleer, in 2010. DeMeerleer, who also wounded another of Schiering’s sons in the attack, then returned to his own home and killed himself.

Schiering’s family sued the killer’s psychiatrist, Dr. Howard Ashby, and Spokane Psychiatric Clinic, alleging they were negligent in their treatment of DeMeerleer and that they should have done more to protect the victims. Ashby knew his patient had previously expressed homicidal and suicidal ideas, but found no “real clinical problem” in their most recent meeting, three months before the killings.

In a 6-3 opinion, the Supreme Court held Thursday that the lawsuit can go forward. The majority said mental-health professionals must act with reasonable care to identify and mitigate the dangerousness of psychiatric patients.
Killer’s psychiatrist can be sued by victim’s family, Washington Supreme Court says

I'm not sure Ashby could have foresaw something 3 months down the line.

I agree...I don't think this is a good precedent. What's more, it will make doctors more reluctant to take on certain patients or diseases.

 

[irosie91]

The family of a Spokane woman who was murdered along with her son can pursue a lawsuit over whether the killer’s psychiatrist should have done more to protect them, the Washington Supreme Court held in a case with implications for mental-health professionals around the state.

Rebecca Schiering and one of her sons, Phillip, were shot by her ex-fiance, Jan DeMeerleer, in 2010. DeMeerleer, who also wounded another of Schiering’s sons in the attack, then returned to his own home and killed himself.

Schiering’s family sued the killer’s psychiatrist, Dr. Howard Ashby, and Spokane Psychiatric Clinic, alleging they were negligent in their treatment of DeMeerleer and that they should have done more to protect the victims. Ashby knew his patient had previously expressed homicidal and suicidal ideas, but found no “real clinical problem” in their most recent meeting, three months before the killings.

In a 6-3 opinion, the Supreme Court held Thursday that the lawsuit can go forward. The majority said mental-health professionals must act with reasonable care to identify and mitigate the dangerousness of psychiatric patients.
Killer’s psychiatrist can be sued by victim’s family, Washington Supreme Court says

I'm not sure Ashby could have foresaw something 3 months down the line.

I agree...I don't think this is a good precedent. What's more, it will make doctors more reluctant to take on certain patients or diseases.

the case HINGES on the record-------for any discerning person---BUT
it is likely that the lawyer for the plaintiff will demand a JURY TRIAL---
the doc is in deep shit---- I ain't no lawyer-----but if the lawyer for the
defense is smart he will try to do the NO JURY option and get the judge to
be a judge-------hopefully DA JUDGE is a mensch

 

[Pete7469]

I agree...I don't think this is a good precedent. What's more, it will make doctors more reluctant to take on certain patients or diseases.

It will also make people more reluctant to seek help, if they believe a doctor may alert authorities.

 

[Disir]

The family of a Spokane woman who was murdered along with her son can pursue a lawsuit over whether the killer’s psychiatrist should have done more to protect them, the Washington Supreme Court held in a case with implications for mental-health professionals around the state.

Rebecca Schiering and one of her sons, Phillip, were shot by her ex-fiance, Jan DeMeerleer, in 2010. DeMeerleer, who also wounded another of Schiering’s sons in the attack, then returned to his own home and killed himself.

Schiering’s family sued the killer’s psychiatrist, Dr. Howard Ashby, and Spokane Psychiatric Clinic, alleging they were negligent in their treatment of DeMeerleer and that they should have done more to protect the victims. Ashby knew his patient had previously expressed homicidal and suicidal ideas, but found no “real clinical problem” in their most recent meeting, three months before the killings.

In a 6-3 opinion, the Supreme Court held Thursday that the lawsuit can go forward. The majority said mental-health professionals must act with reasonable care to identify and mitigate the dangerousness of psychiatric patients.
Killer’s psychiatrist can be sued by victim’s family, Washington Supreme Court says

I'm not sure Ashby could have foresaw something 3 months down the line.

I agree...I don't think this is a good precedent. What's more, it will make doctors more reluctant to take on certain patients or diseases.

There is a duty to warn but you have to meet the criteria. They don't want a psychiatrist, they want a psychic.

 

[Jarlaxle]

The family of a Spokane woman who was murdered along with her son can pursue a lawsuit over whether the killer’s psychiatrist should have done more to protect them, the Washington Supreme Court held in a case with implications for mental-health professionals around the state.

Rebecca Schiering and one of her sons, Phillip, were shot by her ex-fiance, Jan DeMeerleer, in 2010. DeMeerleer, who also wounded another of Schiering’s sons in the attack, then returned to his own home and killed himself.

Schiering’s family sued the killer’s psychiatrist, Dr. Howard Ashby, and Spokane Psychiatric Clinic, alleging they were negligent in their treatment of DeMeerleer and that they should have done more to protect the victims. Ashby knew his patient had previously expressed homicidal and suicidal ideas, but found no “real clinical problem” in their most recent meeting, three months before the killings.

In a 6-3 opinion, the Supreme Court held Thursday that the lawsuit can go forward. The majority said mental-health professionals must act with reasonable care to identify and mitigate the dangerousness of psychiatric patients.
Killer’s psychiatrist can be sued by victim’s family, Washington Supreme Court says

I'm not sure Ashby could have foresaw something 3 months down the line.

I agree...I don't think this is a good precedent. What's more, it will make doctors more reluctant to take on certain patients or diseases.

Or shrinks will start pushing the panic button any time there is ANY indication someone is nuts, even if they know he is just pissed off.