Overview

• Expert testimony confirms that 90% of treatment-resistant schizophrenia patients relapse within two years after stopping antipsychotic medication like clozapine.
• Joel Cauchi’s psychiatrist incorrectly classified his chronic schizophrenia as 'first episode psychosis' and discontinued his medication without adequate follow-up or a second opinion.
• Cauchi exhibited significant red flags, including delusions of Satanic control and behavioral changes, which were reported by his mother but not acted upon.
• Psychiatrists emphasized that while violence by individuals with schizophrenia is rare, those off medication and experiencing delusions are disproportionately involved in such cases.
• The coronial inquest aims to address systemic gaps in mental health care, focusing on improving diagnostic practices, medication management, and regulatory oversight.