The Guardian reported (theguardian.com, 27 November) that an inquest found Branko Zdravkovic, a Slovenian waiter, killed himself while detained in a removal centre. Zdravkovic’s death is one of many occurring in immigration detention that is avoidable, as immigration detention is optional.

Medical Justice sends volunteer doctors to visit immigration detainees to document scars of torture and challenge instances of medical mistreatment. The continued detention of a number of our clients has been found by the high court to have amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment. Inquests have found neglect contributing to other deaths in immigration detention.

The Home Office is well aware of the issues – our report, Death in Immigration Detention, documents that year after year, investigations into deaths in immigration detention reveal ongoing systemic healthcare failings.

As found in Zdravkovic’s case, safeguards aimed at identifying and dealing appropriately with vulnerable immigration detainees fail on many occasions. We fear that as long as these failings continue to go unaddressed there will be more deaths. Last year, 11 immigration detainees died, the highest death rate on record. Immigration removal centres should be closed down before another person dies.

Emma Ginn

Director, Medical Justice

• In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or by emailing jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org