The death of a teenager, who hanged himself in a Plymouth woodland, was wholly avoidable say his family.
John Taylor Partridge, 17, was admitted to hospital after taking an overdose but was later assessed as being ‘low risk’ and discharged – only to be found hanged in Budshead Woods on Monday, March 17 2014.
Yesterday, the Assistant Coroner for Cornwall, Plymouth & Devon, Mr Andrew Cox, delivered a conclusion of suicide at Plymouth Coroner’s Court.
In his summary, Mr Cox said he would be writing to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt about the lacuna in the law, the gaps in definitive protocol in whether to treat 16 and 17 year olds under the Children’s Act or the Mental Capacity Act.
He also said that the local health trusts should offer guidance for local practitioners so that any confusion in relation to the care and treatment of 16 or 17 year olds would be clearer.
Following the inquest, John’s mother Sandy Partridge said: “John was a particularly vulnerable young man who fell through the cracks of the healthcare system.
John’s family were represented by barrister Mamta Gupta of No5 Chambers, who in turn was instructed by Frances Morgan and James Snell of Wolferstans Solicitors.
