Doctors take the stand after veteran committed suicide

Champion family doctors testify in suicide case filed against them
Vindy.com
By Ed Runyan
January 16, 2014

WARREN

Dr. Frank G. Veres and his son, Dr. Zachary F. Veres, took the witness stand Wednesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to discuss the treatment they gave Michael Ecker of Champion, who served in the military in Iraq and committed suicide in August 2009 while under the care of the physicians.

The testimony was heard during the third day of a trial arising from a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Ecker’s father, Matthew Ecker of Champion, who seeks monetary damages from the doctors, saying they failed to administer adequate care to his 25-year-old son.

Testimony in the trial before Judge Ronald Rice concluded Wednesday afternoon. Closing arguments and deliberations are expected this afternoon.

The father-and-son doctors, whose offices are on Mahoning Avenue in Champion, handled monthly office visits for Michael Ecker, each handling some of them from January 2009 until Aug. 17, 2009 — 11 days before Michael Ecker died.

Frank Veres, the elder physician, testified that he had no concerns about Michael Ecker’s mental health during the first visit in January, despite diagnosing Ecker as having depression and renewing a prescription for a depression-fighting drug.
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