The hospital may be liable if measures were not taken to reduce the risk of elopement by Mr. Jones. If he was not admitted to a locked ward where it would be more difficult to leave, if he was not watched closely, and was not monitored or checked every half hour to every hour the hospital itself may be liable. If Dr. Simon did not admit Mr. Jones to a safer, locked ward Dr. Simon may also be liable. Nurses may also be liable if they failed to check on the activities of Mr. Jones for several hours. He may have been placed on suicide precautions, which means he would require constant supervision.
Gerardi, D. (2007). Elopement: Spotlight case. Retrieved from