Seth Has a Seizure

     Seth did not perform up to his high standards during his final psychology class due to
a personality clash with his teacher.  As a result, he was not able to get into
Psychology graduate school.  He felt rejected  but decided that he had always been
interested in the law and would prepare himself for Law School.

     However, we now realize that over the last month of his life, Seth was more depressed
than he was letting anyone know.  His panic attacks worsened in August, 1993 and he 
finally saw another psychiatrist on his own. This individual gave him Elavil and was aware
of the Xanax I had prescribed.  Seth did not want to continue with this psychiatrist, and  
decided to apply to several outpatient clinics for psychotherapy. 

     In an attempt to help himself, Seth began to use the Xanax in higher doses without
telling me.  He also continued to use Elavil and asked me to give him another prescription
while he was waiting to begin treatment at a clinic. I did so.

     I was to learn years later that most likely feeling  fed up with needing medication, 
Seth too rapidly tapered the Xanax.  Inexplicably, just prior to asking me to refill his
Elavil, he also forged prescriptions for both Reserpine and Elavil.  In retrospect, over 
the last month of his life, Seth must have been breaking down emotionally.   
He had never done anything like that in his entire life. 

     On the afternoon of August 21, 1993, while both my wife and I were out, Seth suffered
a seizure witnessed by his 10 year old sister. She called 911 and he was brought to the Allen
Pavilion of Columbia Prebyterian Hospital.  I picked up my daughter at the local precinct 
where she had been taken while he was driven by ambulance to the hospital.  Debbie 
and I first drove home. I looked at his Xanax bottle and knew for certain that he
had taken between around 60-70 Xanax (2mg)over the previous 3 weeks. 

Allen Pavilion Medical Emergency Room

     The description of what happened at the Allen Pavilion comes principally from the 
Trial Memorandum prepared by our lawyer, Thomas R. Moore, Esq.  I have expanded
on Mr. Moore's document for the purposes of this Web Site. Also, details about what
was wrong with the actual treatment Seth received at the hospital can be obtained
from the Bill of Particulars prepared by Mr. Moore's co-council, Richard Frank, Esq. 

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