November 5, 2008
Government pays family $800,000 over Tripler suicide
Advertiser Staff
The federal government has paid $800,000 to settle a lawsuit brought
by the family of a suicidal Air Force veteran who jumped to his death
from Tripler Army Medical Center after his pleas to be admitted went
unheeded, the family’s attorney said today.
Robert Roth, 50, died in January 2007 after he jumped from a 10th-floor
balcony at Tripler.
The family had sued the U.S. government, alleging that Tripler was
careless and negligent in its dealings with Roth.
If Tripler had admitted Roth on either of two instances when he went
to the hospital seeking help, he would have been hospitalized for a
short period, had his anti-depressant medication adjusted and would
not have jumped to his death, according to Rick Fried, the family’s
attorney.
The $800,000 settlement means a trial scheduled for next month will
not be held, Fried said.
A Tripler representative could not be immediately reached for comment.
Source: Honoluluadvertiser.com