Poletti v. Overlake Hospital Medical Center

¶1 We accepted discretionary review in this wrongful death case to determine the standard by which a fact finder should judge Overlake Hospital’s decision to discharge, rather than detain, a voluntarily admitted psychiatric patient. We conclude Overlake’s decision to dis*831charge the patient implicated the involuntary treatment act, chapter 71.05 RCW, and the hospital cannot be liable if the decision was made in good faith and without gross negligence.

¶2 Sherri Poletti, age 58, suffered from bipolar disorder. Around Christmas Day 2006, she stopped taking her medications and began to drive…