Sobering Response

Dear Editor,
    In an April 1, 2022 article titled, “Austin Man’s Suicide in Jail After Seeking Medical Care Raises Question: Why Was He There?” [News, April 1] the Sobering Center was mentioned a few times in a less than positive light. While it is accurate as stated in the article, that federal law would prohibit our organization from even acknowledging whether or not we knew the person in question, much less the details of his care, the Chronicle did not even attempt to reach us for comment on the process, our policies, or the current state of emergency behavioral health services in Travis County. The article describes in detail a beloved man’s suicide without regard for readers trauma and recklessly calls out service providers painting them as negligent without having even asked a question. There was a more thorough and responsible way to write this article that may have actually led to some systems improvements rather than simply using this man’s life to point fingers without all the information. The Sobering Center would welcome a follow up conversation regarding big picture issues around this issue, and will remain committed to our own legal and ethical obligations around detail. It is really the very least the Chronicle could do out of respect for this man’s life and the other human beings who attempted to save him.