The Joint Commission recently released its 2024 Sentinel Event Data which summarizes the data reported to Joint Commission from its accredited healthcare organizations in 2024. The Joint Commission is an independent, non-profit organization that not only accredits and certifies healthcare organizations and programs in the United States, but also reveals data and trends happening within these organizations.

 

One trend that had been revealed is the sharp increase of in patient suicides that occurred in 2024.

 

The Numbers Tell a Concerning Story

 

The 2024 data shows that patient suicide/death by self-inflicted injurious behavior accounted for 122 events, a dramatic surge from 71 cases reported in 2023. This represents a staggering 71.8% increase in reported patient suicides within healthcare organizations.

 

Patient suicide now ranks as the fourth leading category of sentinel events in 2024, moving up significantly from its previous position.

 

What This Means for Healthcare Organizations

 

This surge in reported patient suicides should serve as a wake-up call for healthcare organizations across the country. The data underscores the critical importance of:

 

Enhanced Suicide Risk Assessment: Healthcare organizations must implement robust, evidence-based screening tools to identify patients at risk for self-harm.

 

Improved Communication: Based on historical data, failures in communication among care team members have been identified as leading contributors to sentinel events, including suicides.

 

Environmental Safety: Organizations need to continuously evaluate their physical environment to remove potential means of self-harm while maintaining a therapeutic atmosphere.

 

Staff Training: Healthcare workers at all levels need ongoing education about suicide risk factors, warning signs, and intervention strategies.

 

Follow-up Care: With many suicides occurring within 72 hours of discharge, robust transition planning and follow-up care are essential.

 

Looking Forward

 

The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goal 15 focuses specifically on suicide risk reduction, emphasizing the importance of identifying individuals at risk for suicide and implementing evidence-based interventions. As these numbers demonstrate, there is urgent work to be done. That is why at the Law Offices of Paul Ford, we are taking this alarming increase in patient suicides seriously, as these horrible and preventable tragedies can no longer be overlooked. As your attorney, we will:

 

Hold Healthcare Organizations Accountable: Legal action can serve as a powerful motivator for healthcare systems to implement proper suicide prevention protocols. When organizations face financial consequences for negligent care, they are more likely to invest in comprehensive safety measures.

 

Identify Systemic Failures: Experienced wrongful death attorneys can recognize patterns of negligence, such as inadequate screening procedures, failure to follow established protocols, insufficient staffing, or lack of proper environmental safeguards. Their investigations often reveal systemic issues that contributed to preventable deaths.

 

Advocate for You and Your Family: Beyond seeking financial compensation, wrongful death law firms provide families with a voice in demanding answers and accountability. They can compel healthcare organizations to disclose their policies, training records, and incident reports that might otherwise remain hidden.

 

For families who have lost loved ones to suicide in healthcare settings, it's important to understand that if negligence played a role—such as failure to conduct proper risk assessments, ignoring warning signs, or not following established safety protocols—legal recourse may be available. To help families understand their rights and options while potentially preventing similar tragedies from occurring to other families, consider having a consult with Paul Ford today.

 

As healthcare providers, administrators, and policymakers review these findings, the question isn't whether we can afford to invest in suicide prevention measures—it's whether we can afford not to.