Amy Clarke appeared on behalf of the East London NHS Foundation Trust at the inquest into the death of Leo Toze

Mr. Toze was 17 years old at the time of his death in 2021. He had been diagnosed with depression, which had been greatly exacerbated by a sense of isolation imposed by lockdowns in 2020. Mr. Toze had also been diagnosed with Asperger’s when he was a young child, which became relevant to the way in which clinicians managed his treatment and care once he had been referred to his Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. He was referred to the Service after two suicide attempts in early 2021. Mr. Toze was prescribed anti-depressant medication and had undergone a programme of therapy in the summer of 2021. Tragically, he died on a stretch of railway track on the 3^rd September 2021.

The inquest examined Mr. Toze’s mental health history and his treatment during 2021, including the decision to prescribe Fluoxitine and the significance of suicidal ideation as a side effect of that medication. The Inquest also examined the nature of the police response to the receipt of information that Mr. Toze had expressed, via social media, an intention to end his life. The Coroner returned a conclusion of suicide, with a short narrative.  

Media report here.

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Authors

Amy Clarke

Call 2010

Related areas

Healthcare

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Inquests

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