Family of soldier win negligence claim
The parents of an Iraq war veteran have won
compensation from the US government after a state owned Army hospital failed in their duty of care.
Jeffrey Lucey, returned from service suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and according to his family began to experience nightmares and depression. The Veteran Affairs hospital turned him away without having a psychiatric evaluation despite signs that he may be suicidal.
His family argued that the hospital were negligent in failing to spot their sons condition and that his suicide, two weeks later, could have been prevented.
According to reports the value of the lawsuit was $350,000.
Assistant US Attorney Karen Goodwin said, in a letter to the family, that the case had resulted in changes to the way veteran's mental health systems operate.
Updated on 21/01/2009