Irvin v. Southern Illinois Healthcare

*980 ¶ 1 At issue in this appeal is what steps a health care provider may take if it has reason to believe that a patient may be suicidal. The plaintiff, Anita Irvin, sought treatment for swelling and pain in her leg at the emergency room of a hospital operated by the defendant, Southern Illinois Healthcare. At some point, her primary care physician informed the attending emergency room physician that the plaintiff recently made suicidal ideations. Emergency room personnel prevented the plaintiff from leaving the hospital. When and if the plaintiff was asked to speak to a mental health counselor…