An inmate who committed suicide inside a Newport prison in August was not subjected to adequate medical monitoring after he was prescribed an anti-depressant that can prompt extreme emotional swings, the Vermont Defender General’s Office concluded in an investigation released yesterday.
Robert Mossey, a 38-year-old Burlington man who hung himself in the Northern State Correctional Facility on Aug. 30, was placed on medication while an inmate, but was not subjected to the strict follow-up reviews received by patients who aren’t incarcerated, Defender General Matt Valerio told lawmakers yesterday.
“Some of those medications can make you suicidal, instead of stopping you,” Valerio said. “There’s no indication from the records that (appropriate monitoring) occurred.”
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
