Suicide as an incident of severe patient harm: a retrospective cohort study of investigations after suicide in Swedish healthcare in a 13-year perspective.
In Sweden, patient suicide following contact with a healthcare provider is regarded a potential case of patient harm and must be investigated and reported to the Swedish supervisory authority. This retrospective study analyzed reported cases across three timeframes and concluded the investigations were largely suited to fit the requirements of the supervisory authority rather than an opportunity for organizational learning to advance patient safety. A 2019 PSNet Spotlight Case highlights systems issues that contributed to a patient’s suicide following discharge from the Emergency Department.