The family of a 33-year-old man who died by suicide is suing an Oregon hospital for $2.5 million -- claiming a doctor released the man shortly before he fatally shot himself.

The family of Matthew Kegler faults PeaceHealth’s “Cottage Grove Medical Center” for allegedly brushing off serious warning signs, including that Kegler had said “everybody was telling him to take his own life” and that included his dog, according to the lawsuit filed Monday. The lawsuit also says Kegler mentioned a gun.

A spokeswoman for PeaceHealth, Sherri Buri McDonald, declined to comment because of the litigation but offered this statement: “PeaceHealth extends its sincerest sympathy and condolences to the family and loved ones of Matthew Kegler.”

The suit comes on the heels of a $3 million lawsuit filed two weeks ago by the parents of a 20-year-old man who died while jogging in the lanes of Interstate 5, two days after PeaceHealth’s Sacred Heart Medical Center University District in Eugene allegedly released him while he was in mental health crisis.

This week’s lawsuit says Kegler called 911 because he was experiencing an “acute psychotic episode” at about 3 a.m. on Oct. 3, 2016. He told a Cottage Grove police officer who showed up at his apartment a short while later that his dog, Maxwell, was among those urging him to go through with it, according to the suit.

Kegler’s neighbor drove him to the medical center, with the officer following.

The officer told an attending doctor about Kegler’s suicidal statements and that Kegler also had mentioned a gun, according to the suit. The doctor said she was familiar with Kegler because of a previous suicidal encounter, the suit states.

At about 4 a.m., the doctor placed a 12-hour mental health hold on Kegler.

Shortly after 5 a.m., an “unlicensed intern” from South Lane Mental Health Services conducted a psychiatric evaluation of Kegler, and the intern determined he wasn’t a threat to himself and didn’t need emergency care, according to the suit.

At about 6 a.m., the doctor and PeaceHealth discharged Kegler, the suit says.

That evening, Kegler’s neighbor called police again because Kegler wasn’t responding to the neighbor’s calls, texts or knocks on his door, the suit says. Police arrived and found Kegler dead inside.

Kegler is survived by his three children and his parents.

South Lane Mental Health Services also is listed among the defendants in the lawsuit. Executive director Damien Sands said describing the worker who evaluated Kegler as an “unlicensed intern” doesn’t give a complete picture -- the worker was a “qualified mental health professional.”

Further, Sands added: "We recognize that this is a tragedy for the family involved, and we offer support and condolences to them.”

Portland attorney Chad Stavley filed the lawsuit in Multnomah County Circuit Court on behalf of Kegler’s estate.

-- Aimee Green

agreen@oregonian.com

o_aimee

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