Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2022

Jack Ritchie

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2022-0072, written 7 Mar 2022. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report7 Mar 2022
Reference2022-0072
DeceasedJack Ritchie
CoronerDavid Urpeth
Coroner areaSouth Yorkshire (West)
CategorySuicide (from 2015) · Community health care · Other related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION  28  REPORT TO  PREVENT FUTURE  DEATHS 

THIS  REPORT IS  BEING  SENT TO THE  SECRETARIES OF STATE OF: 

1.  The Department of Education 
2.  The Department of Health and  Social Care 
3.  The  Department of Culture Media and  Sport 

1 

CORONER 

I am David  Urpeth, Senior Coroner,  for the Coroner Area of South Yorkshire West 

2 

CORONE~SLEGALPOWERS 

I make this report under paragraph 7,  Schedule 5,  of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 
and  regulations 28 and  29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. 

3 

INVESTIGATION and  INQUEST 

On 29.11.17, the investigation into .the death of JACK WILLIAM  RAMSEY RITCHIE 
commenced . The investigation concluded  at the end of the  inquest on  the 4.3 .22. The 
conclusion was a narrative conclusion,  copy  attached . 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

On  the  22 .11 .17, Jack William  Ramsey  Ritchie  (hereafter "Jack"), 
of  a  restaurant  situated  as  Lane  193,  Nghi  Tam  Road ,  Yen  Phu  Ward ,  Tay  Ho,  Hanoi, 
 with the intention of taking him own  life.  He died 
Vietnam.  The evidence was that he
of multiple injuries. 

Jack had  suffered  a gambling addiction  dating back to  aged  17,  a time when  he was still  at 
school. 

5 

CORONER'S CONCERNS 

During  the course of the inquest the evidence revealed  matters giving rise to concern . In 
my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will  occur unless action  is taken.  In  the 
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you . 

The MATIERS OF  CONCERN are as follows .  -

During the inquest, evidence showed:-

-

-

That the system of regulation  in  force at the time of his death did not stop Jack 
gambling  at a point when  he was obviously addicted to gambling 

The warnings Jack received were insufficient to prevent him gambling 

 
 -

-

-

-

-

The information available to Jack was insufficient to  prevent him gambling or to 
inform him of the help / treatments available 

The treatment available and  received  by  Jack was insufficient to cure his 
addiction - this in  part was due to a lack of training for medical professionals 
around the diagnosis and treatment of gambling addiction 

Jack didn't understand that being  addicted to gambling wasn't his fault.  That 
lack of understanding lead to feelings of shame and  hopelessness which  is 
turn,  contributed  to  him feeling  suicidal 

That in  the time  since Jack's death,  whilst there have been  improvements 
made in  the areas of warnings,  information , training  and treatment,  the 
evidence showed there were still significant gaps in these areas. One notable 
gap was the fact that evidence suggested GPs currently have insufficient 
training  and  knowledge to deal effectively with  gambling  problems. This was of 
particular concern  given  many gamblers affected are likely to contact a GP as 
their first attempt to seek help 

The evidence was that young  people were the most at risk from the  harms of 
gambling yet there was and  still  appears to  be,  very  little education for school 
children on the subject. 

As  I said  in  open court and  repeat here, I stress I am  not,  and would  not,  attempt to tell 
government upon what and  how they should act or indeed  legislate. 

I issue this  preventing  future  death  report  in  the  hope  that Government finds  the  concerns 
raised  informative  and  of assistance,  especially  at  a  time  they  are  considering  the  whole 
issue  of gambling  and  its  regulation . Indeed,  I recall  the  Director General  of Dept of Health 
and  Social  Care who gave evidence  at the  inquest saying  that Government was  looking  to 
this  inquest to  learn . I therefore  hope  this  preventing  future  death  report  will  assist  in  this 
regard. 

I leave the government, as they see fit, to cascade this report to all appropriate government 
departments,  as well  as any other organisations,  professional  bodies or charities working 
within the arena of problem gambling . I do this as the government are best placed to  control 
or oversee legislation,  regulation,  education , treatment and  support,  and to  promote any 
actions around the issue of problem gambling designed to  prevent future deaths. 

6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In  my  opinion action should  be taken to prevent future deaths and  I believe you  [AND/OR 
your organisation] have the  power to take such action . 

7 

YOUR RESPONSE 

You  are under a duty to  respond  to this report within  56  days of the date of this  report, 
namely by  2.5.22.  I,  the coroner,  may extend the period. 

Your response must contain  details of action taken or proposed to  be taken,  setting out the 
timetable for action . Otherwise,  you  must explain why no action  is  proposed. 

2 

 8 

COPIES and  PUBLICATION 

I have sent a copy of my  report to  the  Chief Coroner and to  all  Interested Persons:-

1.  Family of Jack Ritchie 

2.  The Gambling  Commission 

3.  GambleAware 

4.  GamCare 

I am also under a duty to  send  the Chief Coroner a copy of your response . 

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both  in  a complete,  redacted or summary form.  He 
may send  a copy of this report to  any person who he  believes may find  it useful or of 
interest.  You  may make representations to  me,  the coroner,  at the time of your response, 
about the release or the  publication of your response  by  the Chief Coroner. 

9 

Dated:  7.3.22 

~9~ 

l i...,. 

SIGNED BY 
DAVID  URPETH, SENIOR CORONER SOUTH YORKSHIRE (WEST) 

3

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