A doctor who discharged a man from Carseview days before he took his own life said the patient gave no hint he had plans to hang himself.
Dr Arvind Gunput was giving evidence at the fatal accident inquiry into the death of Dale Thomson, who took his own life in January 2015.
Dale, 28, of Charleston, was first admitted to the mental health centre on January 8 2015 but discharged himself two days later after what he felt was a lack of treatment.
He was readmitted on January 22 and after an appointment at Carseview the following day he was again allowed to leave. Dale was found dead by his mum, Mandy McLaren, 49, in his home on January 27 that year.
His family believe he should have been detained under the Mental Health Act.
Dr Gunput told Dundee Sheriff Court that he assessed Dale on January 22 for about 40 minutes.
He decided the best course of treatment for him was to speak to drugs agency Addaction about his cannabis use, and for him to be referred back to his GP. The decision was he wouldn’t be detained as Dr Gunput claimed Dale had not shown any symptoms of psychosis or indications he would self-harm.
Danny Devine, representing Dale’s family, said: “His mother said he believed that people were standing outside his house talking and that his mother had been talking to the police about him.
“And she claims he told you he had tried to hang himself before and had wire to do it again. Do you remember that?”
The doctor said that he “didn’t recall that being the case”.
Mr Devine then asked: “Did Dale not say he was in a black hole and needed help?” Again the doctor said he didn’t recall that.
Mr Devine said: “You were more concerned with his cannabis use than anything else, isn’t that correct?”
However, the doctor replied that he was concerned about Dale’s “whole picture”.
Mr Devine added: “I’m still somewhat baffled as to why you would prescribe an anti-depressant when you apparently said, ‘he wasn’t showing symptoms of depression when I assessed him’.”
However, Dr Gunput said Dale “had a history in the past of benefiting from anti-depressants”, adding that the drug prescribed “could help his insomnia”.
The inquiry continues.
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