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December 1, 2009

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Suicide blamed on insurer

Thursday, Nov. 16, 2000 | 11:35 a.m.

A Las Vegas woman sued Sierra Health Services Inc., a physician, Southwest Medical Associates Inc. and Health Plan of Nevada Inc., alleging their refusal to provide proper medication for her husband's obsessive-compulsive and attention-deficit disorders caused him to commit suicide.

In a Clark County District Court lawsuit, the plaintiff said her husband's medication regime of Cylert and Prozac was changed to Ritalin by the defendants after they determined Ritalin was as effective as his previous prescription. The woman alleged the symptoms of his disorders began recurring on Nov. 2, 1999, and he shot himself to death on Nov. 19, 1999, allegedly in front of his wife and son.

The suit said the man began a regime of Cylert and Prozac in 1996 with Southwest Medical to control his symptoms and function at work and at home.

The plaintiff said Steve Evans, a Sierra Health physician, repeatedly refused to reinstate the man's prescription of Cylert and Prozac despite several written requests.

"The cost of the medication requested is twice as high as the medication (the defendants) did allow. So cost does appear to be a factor behind the change in his prescription," said Robert Hempen, the plaintiff's attorney.

Sierra Health officials could not be reached for comment on the allegations.

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