A doctor told an inquest in Cork yesterday how he had pleaded with a man who was later found dead near the city centre not to sign himself out of hospital.
Mr Thomas O'Connell (32) of 3 Sun Valley Drive, Fairhill, Cork, was found dead at Henry Street in the city centre at 8.10 a.m. on February 13th last. Against medical advice, he signed himself out of the Mercy Hospital at 7.30 a.m. the same morning.
Dr Sean McCarthy told the deputy Cork coroner, Mr Philip Comyn, that he had pleaded with Mr O'Connell to remain in the hospital. The deceased, however, was determined to leave and refused to take his advice. He was later found unconscious at Henry Street and pronounced dead after being returned by ambulance to the hospital.
Relatives of Mr O'Connell , including his brother John, said they were unhappy at the fact he had been allowed to leave the hospital, but Mr Comyn pointed out that doctors did not have the right to detain a patient who was of sound mind but determined to leave hospital care. A verdict of death in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.