Psychologist took Epstein off suicide watch

The one thing a psychotherapist/psychologist is taught when it comes to a suicidal patient, is to always err on the side of caution. In the case of Jeffrey Epstein, it seems as if caution may have been thrown to the wind.

According to the DOJ, Epstein was taken off suicide watch after being examined by a "doctoral-level psychologist" just days before he hanged himself in his prison cell.

Psychotherapists/psychologists explore certain criteria when it comes to suicide: does the patient manifest suicidal thoughts; has there been a previous attempt; does the patient have a plan; does the patient have the means to kill him or herself?

In Epstein's case, another important factor to consider is the notion that his future of a likely long-term, possibly a lifetime of incarceration, served as a powerful triggering factor. His future was incredibly bleak one can imagine, and pedophiles don't fair well in prison.

The suicide watch disclosure was made in a Thursday letter addressed to House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), and ranking member Doug Collins, R-Ga. Fox News obtained the letter on Friday.

“The Department can confirm that Mr. Epstein was placed on suicide watch in July,” Justice Department official Stephen E. Boyd wrote in the Thursday letter. “Mr. Epstein was later removed from suicide watch after being evaluated by a doctoral-level psychologist who determined that a suicide watch was no longer warranted.”

This doctoral-level psychologist was irresponsible, in my professional opinion, [I was a New York City psychotherapist for about 20 years] and cannot justify taking Epstein off suicide watch, particularly due to the previous possible attempt and the notoriety of the case and its ramifications.

It made no sense--he was about to be put on trial and his entire deviant life was going to be made public. What an incredible blow to his entire psyche.

Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan on August 10. He was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls and had a previous pedophie conviction. He had been placed on suicide watch weeks earlier after he was found on the floor of his cell with bruises around his neck July 23.

What more did this psychologist need to ensure his safety?

Both the FBI and the Justice Department's inspector general are investigating the circumstances surrounding Epstein's death. Perhaps they need to also investigate the doctoral level psychologist--a blight on the profession.



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