Jaroslaw Rogala (otherwise known as Jarek) · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 8th November 2016, and 25th November 2016, I heard the inquest touching the death of Jaroslaw Rogala (otherwise known as Jarek).

Medical Cause of Death

1 (a) Hanging

How, when and where and in what circumstances the deceased came by her death:

Jarek was dependent on alcohol. When intoxicated he suffered with suicidal ideation. On 3/9/2016 he was found hanging in his bedroom deceased. There were no suspicious circumstances. He was heavily intoxicated at the time of his death.

Conclusion as to the death

He took his own life whilst intoxicated with alcohol

In the days leading up to his death he had attended St George’s Hospital on the 30th and 31st August consecutively with suicidal ideation in association with social stress and alcohol misuse. On each occasion he was seen by Liaison Psychiatry and discharged to GP follow up. Admission had been requested but he was told that there was nowhere that he could be admitted to. He was not sectionable under the Mental Health Act. In evidence the court heard that there is no facility to admit patients in whom the primary diagnosis is dependence on drugs or alcohol under the psychiatric services in such circumstances. Further admission under the medical teams detoxification requires a medical indication. As such there is no ability to admit such a patient into a “safe” space when in crisis for care and supervision. Essentially patients with dependence are thus discriminated against by psychiatric services, with addiction being regarded as a personal choice on the part of the patient rather than being treated as an illness.

That those patients with addiction are risk of suicide as there are no in-patient facilities to admit them for care and supervision when in crisis in circumstances as described in this case.