Inquiries Into Homicides and Serious Violence Perpetrated by Psychiatric Patients in New Zealand: Need for Consistency of Method and Result Analysis

Abstract

Background: The violent action of mentally ill people is a source of considerable public and professional concern. At times such incidents are subject to inquiry. In England and Wales, homicides by people suffering from mental illness are subject to mandatory external inquiry. Further, the Royal College of Psychiatrists coordinates a confidential research study into homicide and suicide by people in contact with mental health services. Inquiries have raised concern regarding widespread problems in mental health service delivery. Within New Zealand, similar concerns have been raised, but inquiries have been irregular and not of consistent methodology. The paper aims to review 10 years of inquiries into violent incidents to describe their methods, structure and findings. Method: All inquiries into violent actions perpetrated by patients in contact with mental health services between 1988 and 1998 and held by the Ministry of Health were reviewed. The nature of the inquiry, the incident, findings and recommendations were summarized. For each inquiry, an assessment was made as to whether the incident was predictable or preventable. Results: There were 11 incidents leading to 13 inquiries, six of homicide, two of rape, one of the release of a dangerous patient and two in which a patient was shot by police. Two internal inquiries were followed by external inquiries. All inquiries found deficiencies of varying severity, the degree of deficiency being greater with external inquiries. Consistent criticisms related to skill, resource, coordination and communication failures. Two of the 11 inquiries found the incident to be ‘predictable’, and eight to have been ‘preventable’. Conclusions: The problems in New Zealand are similar to those noted in England and Wales. Small numbers of inquiries make firm conclusions difficult, but the authors feel that a mandatory process of independent review of serious incidents is wise.