Our Focus: Pursuing Accountability for Systemic Failures
Understanding the Legal Implications of Suicide Malpractice
Suicide malpractice occurs when a medical or mental health provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care for a person at known risk for suicide—and that failure contributes to a preventable death.
Common examples of such negligence include:
Not properly supervising high-risk individuals
Disregarding results from suicide risk assessments
Prematurely releasing patients without support plans
Ignoring obvious behavioral changes or distress signals
Leaving dangerous items accessible to patients
Failing to intervene in jails or mental health units
When these oversights result in a loss of life, the facility or provider may be held responsible under malpractice or wrongful death law.
Who We Represent: Families Grieving a Preventable Loss
We advocate for the families of individuals who took their own lives while under institutional care, including:
- Psychiatric or behavioral health centers
- Drug and alcohol treatment programs
- Emergency rooms and hospital psychiatric departments
- Local jails, state prisons, or juvenile facilities
- Crisis stabilization units and detox centers
If your loved one died in a setting where professionals should have intervened, we’ll help you pursue justice and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Why We Handle These Cases with Passion and Purpose
Suicide malpractice cases are among the most difficult—emotionally, legally, and medically. That’s why many firms avoid them. But at Protecting Us All, these aren’t just legal matters—they’re personal.
Attorney Paul Ford knows the pain of losing someone to suicide. His own family has lived through it. That lived experience fuels our unwavering commitment to families who face the same unimaginable grief. Our mission is clear: to seek accountability, uncover the truth, and fight for justice in every preventable death.
When professionals or institutions fall short of their duty to protect, we take action—and we do it with both legal precision and deep compassion.
These are not coincidences. They are the result of
underfunded care, institutional neglect, and lack of accountability.
10th
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.
#1
It is the #1 cause of death in psychiatric hospitals.
First week
A majority of inpatient suicides occur within the first week of admission.
Rates
Suicide rates continue to rise—especially among young adults and veterans.
What You Can Expect from Our Legal Team
We approach each case with a combination of legal skill, investigative depth, and emotional understanding. Here’s how we work:
01
Initial Case Review
We offer a private, honest conversation to understand your situation and help determine your legal options.
02
Thorough Investigation
Our team gathers all relevant records, interviews witnesses, and examines institutional practices.
03
Expert Collaboration
We work with top medical and psychiatric experts to evaluate what went wrong and who should be held responsible.
Skip Simpson
Hello. My name is Skip Simpson. I am an attorney from San Antonio Texas. I have dedicated the majority of my career to handling suicide malpractice cases. It is all I do. I am passionate about it. Very passionate.
You won't find many lawyers recommending other lawyers on websites, but this is an exception. I met Paul Ford several years ago, and we have worked together on numerous cases; he is an exceptionally skilled trial lawyer. Paul's life was changed when his brother, a physician, died by suicide. Paul has taken his unique perspective and used it to relate to our clients in a way few if any other lawyers can do.
As I continue my dedicated journey, I nevertheless, at this stage in my career, need to know someone exactly like Paul will carry on the good fight for our special clients. I take great pride in working with Paul as I teach him from my years of experience. I know he will continue to carry the torch and represent families who have been shattered by suicide. I highly recommend him.