Doctor Commits Suicide After Suspension From Work For Blogging About Depression |PoliFocus

A doctor who blogged about her battle with bipolar disorder hanged herself after a patient read the posts and complained to the surgery, an inquest heard.


Dr Wendy Potts, 46, was found dead by her partner Mark St John Jones at her home on November 24 last year.

The mum kept an online blog which stated that she suffered from bipolar disorder – a mental health condition marked by periods of elation and depression.

Mr Jones told the inquest that a patient read his partner’s blog and complained to her surgery, questioning whether she should be practising as a GP when she had the condition.

The inquest heard Dr Potts was then suspended from the practice, which was not identified, after the October half-term.

Mr Jones said: “Wendy said, ‘how can I have been so stupid?’ – relating to the blog.”

The court heard Dr Potts, of Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbys., was under psychiatric care and her medication was increased after the suspension.

Before Dr Potts’ died, the suspension was lifted by the surgery but this was subject to other investigations being completed. 

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