Suspended Sophomore Seen as Suicidal Secures Sweet Settlement
pO157.
Posted to Etcetera on Mon Nov 13, 2006 at 04:49:55 AM EST (promoted by Acefantastik). RSS.
On 11/1 both sides in a court case announced they had reached a settlement deal. What made this case noteworthy is what some view as outrageous actions taken by the defendant(s) that instigated the lawsuit. The case dealt with a George Washington University sophomore who had been barred from campus, sent orders of suspension, and threatened with expulsion for violating the school code of conduct. His crime? Voluntarily seeking help for depression.
According to the facts in the case set out in the complaint (pdf doc), straight-A GWU student Jordan Nott headed down this troubled road in 2004. A close friend of his ended his life that April while Jordan and two friends stood outside the locked room, trying to help. Jordan was deeply hurt by this incident, and began to experience depression that September.
A visit to the school psychiatrist yielded two prescriptions, Ambien and Zoloft. Although Jordan said he had no intentions of harming himself, the doctor nonetheless questioned him about how he would go about committing suicide if he actually intended to do so. Later that evening Mr. Nott realized that the medications had the side effect of heightening depression symptoms before reducing them, and that his roommate would be away for several days. Although he felt fine at the time, he believed he should not be left alone, just to be safe. So he went to the university hospital and was admitted voluntarily. The hospital then notified the university about his admission.
A flurry of nasty bureaucratic letters then began, before his family could even arrive at the hospital. One administrator told his mother that they were necessary because Mr. Nott had to "learn the seriousness of the incident." At least one of the letters was delivered to the ward after visiting hours after his mother requested they not be sent before she was able to see her son, as she feared it would further destabilize his condition.
The letters offered Mr. Nott the ability to avoid the hassle of campus disciplinary charges if he withdrew from school and provided the administration with medical documentation -- although he would still be barred from campus (a punishment normally given to convicted criminals and sexual offenders). He was not even allowed into his own dorm room with an escort to pick up his belongings once released from the hospital.
Once home, several months later, more disciplinary trespass warnings were sent to him. He began the process to transfer to other colleges. His parents complained to the president of the university. Months later he again appealed for the right to return to campus to visit his friends, etc. His request was denied.
As one would expect, the classy actions of George Washington University and its employees, lead to a pro-bono lawsuit, and a firestorm among the academic community and beyond.
Administrators insist they were simply trying to limit their liability, and act in Mr. Nott's best interest. They state that there is a liability in having suicidal or potentially mentally ill students enrolled.
Inside Higher Education reports GWU is now working on a plan that would allow students' private mental health records to be shared with university administrators -- possibly by the use of forcing students to sign a privacy waiver allowing mental health session records to be shared with the university officials. The effects of this plan (if implemented) on students with problems actually getting help is not known.
Mental illness is already a highly stigmatized condition in this country. What effects do cases and policies such as this have on mental health treatment? Are actions such as those taken by GWU justified?
edited by Ace
< The Trick Was Coming As A Suicide Bomber. The Treat Was Posing With The University President.
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