Student Sues University Over Depression

Student Sues University Over Depression

POSTED: 11:49 am EST November 1, 2006
UPDATED: 12:33 pm EST November 1, 2006

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WASHINGTON -- A former student who was barred from the campus of
George Washington University and threatened with expulsion after
checking into a hospital with depression has settled a lawsuit with
the college, both sides announced Tuesday.

The school told Jordan Nott his 2004 hospitalization violated the
school's code of conduct because it demonstrated dangerous behavior.
He said he hadn't tried to kill himself before the hospitalization,
but had been thinking about it because of the suicide of another
George Washington student.

He was barred from campus and threatened with suspension or expulsion
unless he withdrew. He decided not to fight the charges and
transferred to another school a few months later.


Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. University officials said
they were reviewing and revising their policies on involuntary mental
health withdrawal and hoped to have a new plan by the end of the
semester.

"Currently, the way we handle involuntary withdrawals is a judicial
one," said university spokeswoman Tracy Schario. "We're looking at how
to make it an administrative process."

Karen Bower of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, which
represented Nott, said the group was pleased the university was
considering changes.

"It is important that any policy provide for individualized
determinations of whether a student can remain on campus based on an
objective medical evaluation after discharge from a hospital, without
rigid rules based solely upon the fact of hospitalization," she said.

Schario said most George Washington students dealing with depression
are not forced to withdraw.

"It's an extraordinary circumstance where it's an involuntary
situation," she said. "Our student health center helps hundreds of
students, many of whom are depressed."

Schools nationwide are facing legal challenges on how they handle
students' mental health problems.

Hunter College, part of the City University of New York system,
announced in August that it was abandoning its three-year-old policy
to evict dormitory dwellers who attempt suicide as part of a
settlement with a student who sued the school.

The Bazelon Center is also representing a student at a Connecticut
boarding school who was placed on a mandatory leave after seeking
treatment for depression.

On Thu, 02 Nov 2006 01:17:34 GMT, Ed <me@myhouse.com> wrote:

>WASHINGTON -- A former student who was barred from the campus of
>George Washington University and threatened with expulsion after
>checking into a hospital with depression has settled a lawsuit with
>the college, both sides announced Tuesday.
>
>The school told Jordan Nott his 2004 hospitalization violated the
>school's code of conduct because it demonstrated dangerous behavior.
>He said he hadn't tried to kill himself before the hospitalization,
>but had been thinking about it because of the suicide of another
>George Washington student.
>
>He was barred from campus and threatened with suspension or expulsion
>unless he withdrew. He decided not to fight the charges and
>transferred to another school a few months later.
>
>
>Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. University officials said
>they were reviewing and revising their policies on involuntary mental
>health withdrawal and hoped to have a new plan by the end of the
>semester.

I hope it was a butt load of cash. The school administration had no
business trying to bar him from school based on being hospitalized with
depression.

What the hell do they think that will teach other students? Don't ask/don't
tell, just kill yourself.