Hospital suicide due to non-treatment by healthcare staff fearing COVID-19 infection in Bangladesh?

M. Mamun, M. Bodrud-Doza, M. Griffiths

Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to individuals fearing COVID-19 infection alongside conditions such anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress. For a small minority, such mental health factors can contribute to suicide. Here we report a novel reason for suicide and seemingly COVID-19-related – negligence in getting treatment by Bangladeshi healthcare providers. It was alleged that a woman committed suicide at a hospital because she was not treated and because doctors and nurses suspected she was infected with COVID-19 and did not want to get infected themselves. To help allay the fears among HCPs and the patients they are treating with COVID-19, a number of initiatives are suggested.

Cited by 30 publications.

Field of study: Medicine

10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102295