Walker v Sydney West Area Health Service [2007] NSWSC 526

Reported Decision : (2007) Aust Torts Reports 81-892

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Walker v Sydney West Area Health Service [2007] NSWSC 526

HEARING DATE(S) : 16 April 2007; 17 April 2007; 18 April 2007; 19 April 2007; 20 April 2007; 24 April 2007; 26 April 2007; 27 April 2007; 30 April 2007; 1 May 2007; 2 May 2007

JUDGMENT DATE : 25 May 2007

JURISDICTION : Common Law

JUDGMENT OF : Simpson J

DECISION : Verdict for the defendant. Plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs. Exhibits returned.

CATCHWORDS : TORT – NEGLIGENCE – professional negligence – attempted suicide – alcohol consumption – admission to psychiatric hospital – voluntary admission – psychiatric examination – medical and nursing records – discharge – whether discharge premature – intoxication – whether plaintiff ought to have been admitted as involuntary patient – whether plaintiff ought to have been prescribed medication – whether plaintiff mentally – whether plaintiff mentally disordered – exercise of statutory powers – no breach of duty of care

LEGISLATION CITED : Civil Liability Act 2002 Mental Health Act 1990

Bolan v Friern Hospital Management Committee [1957] 1 WLR 582; [1957] 2 All ER 118 CASES CITED : Rogers v Whitaker [1992] HCA 58; 175 CLR 479 Sidaway v Governors of Bethlem Royal Hospital [1985] AC 871

PARTIES : Timothy Walker (Plaintiff) Sydney West Area Health Service (Defendant)

FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20072 of 2004

COUNSEL : DE Grieve QC/JH Reimer (Plaintiff) PR Garling SC/JA Lonergan (Defendant)

SOLICITORS : Livingstone & Company (Plaintiff) Frances Allpress (Defendant)