The man did not trust the doctor from the start. He has just told the nursing specialist at Lucerne’s psychiatry about his childhood nightmares, his fears and his career as an athlete. But now that the doctor enters the conference room, he is taciturn. The voices in his head tell him to stop talking.
The 34-year-old suffered a psychotic attack for the first time in his life on this day in April 2017. He believes that his family is on his right shoulder. And on the left all those who threaten him and his family. He feels persecuted “by the left” and is afraid. His brother and brother-in-law took him to the doctor because they didn’t know how to handle him.
The patient refused medication – the doctor left it at that
After the initial interview, the ward doctor prescribes the drug Zyprexa Velotab – an antipsychotic – in an unusually high dose. When the nurse offers the patient the tablet, he refuses. He doesn’t need that, he says. The doctor accepts that. And puts the patient in a room where an elderly gentleman is already sound asleep. A mistake with grave consequences.
The young man is not alone with the man for an hour when the nurse hears strange noises. The martial artist hit his fellow patient, kicked him and choked him. When the nurse opens the door, he stands there with a bare chest and blood on his face. He was firmly convinced that he was fighting the devil (Zentralplus reported).
Shock over the bloody act
The other patient dies a short time later from his severe injuries. The man who killed him is not guilty and therefore cannot be convicted. «The deed will be with me all my life. I cannot put into words how sorry I am, »he says at the hearing. For his defense lawyer it is clear: “If someone is supposed to pay damages, then please the responsible persons at the clinic.”
Doctor knew about the danger
This is exactly what a hearing before the Willisau District Court is all about. The public prosecutor accuses the doctor responsible for the negligent homicide of the deceased patient. He recognized that the martial artist was in a highly psychotic state that evening – that was evidence of the medication ordered.
From the point of view of the public prosecutor’s office, the doctor should have recognized the danger he was putting the older fellow patient in. And: He should not only have offered the drugs, but had to administer them under duress in the event of refusal.
How the district court assesses the case will show. The hearing starts at 8:30 a.m.
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