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Last updated 9:56 am CT February 09, 2010.

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St. Joseph Patient Commits Suicide

JACKSON COUNTY- St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro is taking corrective actions after a female patient took her own life.The woman had been diagnosed as suicidal and was under observation by hospital staff.

That suicide happened on August 18th.

The woman was diagnosed by doctors here at St. Joseph's as being suicidal and was awaiting transfer to Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney.

Shortly after 5 pm. She was found dead in her room. The woman's name is not being release and hospital officials won't say how she took her own life or if those who were assigned to watch her are at fault.

Hospital Administrator Scott Seaborn says the hospital immediately contacted the Jackson County Coroner, Murphysboro Police Department and the Illinois Department of Public health.

All three organizations are investigating the matter. But the hospital has taken corrective steps.

Under past policy a nurse wasn't with the patient the entire time, "Or as long as the patient is in our
hospital we'll have a sitter in the room with them and we have had patients, suicidal patients since that and that's exactly what's happened." says Seaborn.

Seaborn says hospital suicides are extremely rare adding it's never happened at St. Joseph's or any other hospital owned by Southern Illinois Healthcare.

By: Ryan Kruger
rkruger@wsiltv.com

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