Our Core Focus:
What Is Suicide Malpractice?
Suicide malpractice occurs when a medical, mental health, or correctional facility fails to meet the standard of care
for a patient who is at risk for suicide.
These failures include:
Inadequate supervision of suicidal patients
Failure to conduct or act on risk assessments
Early discharge without safety planning
Ignoring signs of mental health crises
Failure to remove means of self-harm
Neglect in jail or detention settings
The law holds these institutions responsible—when the standard of care is broken, and that breach leads to death, it is
medical negligence.
Who We Represent
We work with families who’ve lost someone to suicide in settings such as:
- Psychiatric hospitals and units
- Drug or alcohol rehabilitation centers
- General hospitals with mental health patients
- Jails and prisons
- Emergency rooms that discharged without proper evaluation
If your loved one was under professional care and still died by suicide,
you are not alone—and you are not powerless.
Why Paul Ford Handles These Cases
"Medical Malpractice is one of the most difficult areas of the law. Many attorneys choose not to handle these types of cases. And for attorneys who do handle medical malpractices cases, even fewer are willing to undertake a suicide malpractice. At the Law Offices of Paul Ford, we have chosen to focus on handling these types of cases.
Some ask why. The answer is simple. My brother died by suicide. A day that forever changed my life. It is my deep connection with the family members who have been touched by suicide that gives me a passion to seek full recovery and justice for the family.
When a mental health professional fails to provide the necessary care, and their patient dies by suicide, the overwhelming sense of grief and betrayal is more than one can handle. That is when we come along side you and make sure that justice is done."
- Paul Ford
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.
How We Can Help
We conduct thorough investigations, consult medical experts, and take these cases to court when institutions refuse to acknowledge fault. You can expect:
01
A compassionate and honest conversation about your case
02
A deep understanding of both medical protocols and legal responsibilities
03
A trial team prepared to challenge hospitals, jail administrators, and insurance defense attorneys
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.