The Peitou Armed Forces Hospital was under fire yesterday as the family of a former patient alleged the hospital allowed the suicidal man to leave the mental institution hours before he drowned himself.
The hospital has dismissed the allegation, claiming that they did not release the man but that he escaped, adding that the family is only after money.
"They had originally asked for NT$1 million in compensation but reduced that to NT$500,000 after realizing that there was no medical negligence on our part," said Lee Chia-fu (李嘉富), the victim's doctor.
He added that the hospital has not paid the sum requested.
Accompanied by New Party City Councilor James Wei (
Because Chen was too emotional to speak, her daughter, Liu Mei-chun (
"I'm very curious to know why the hospital didn't know when and how my brother had gotten out until we called them to inquire about his whereabouts," she said.
Liu said one of her neighbors had told them that they had seen her brother wandering around on the streets.
What upset her the most, Liu said, was that the hospital told her over the phone that her brother was out because he was ready to be released.
"Wouldn't it make more sense for the hospital to inform us about his release before letting him go?" she said.
Liu Yuan-tzu was taken by his family to be admitted to the hospital on March 24 for his amphetamine habit.
His nervous system had been partially damaged after frequently using amphetamines for four years. He was also violent, suicidal and depressed.
The hospital is one of the few hospitals in the city that admits drug users suffering from mental illness.
Two months into his therapy, Liu's mental and physical condition improved and he was allowed to engage in outdoor activities within the limits of the hospital's grounds.
On June 11, the hospital says that Liu escaped from the grounds, which are guarded by security guards.
Tom Yang (
"We called the police, dispatched people to find him and tried to contact Liu's family," he said.
When the hospital eventually got to talk to the Liu family on the phone at around 8pm, Yang said the family told him that Liu was with them and did not wish to return to the hospital.
"I reminded them to bring him back for regular follow-up care," he said.
Liu Mei-chun said that the first thing her brother told her after he returned home was that he'd "rather die than go back to the hospital again."
Liu stayed at home for about 30 minutes before he said he was heading outside for some fresh air. It was the last time he was seen alive by his family.
About one month later on July 16, the Liu family was called to identify a body found drowned in a river on June 11. They identified the body as Liu Yuan-tzu.
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