The federal government has decided to settle a lawsuit filed by the widow of a veteran who hanged himself about 12 hours after being admitted to a mental health ward.

The $390,000 settlement paid to Ingrid Keller ends all possible claims against the government in connection with the Oct. 29, 2006, death of Maynard E. Keller Jr. Tuesday's settlement specifically states there is no admission of liability.

Mr. Keller, 55, retired from the Army after 24 years. He worked as a truck driver until his death.

The lawsuit filed last year in U.S. District Court alleged the Uptown Division of the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center was negligent in ensuring a safe environment.

Mr. Keller was able to use the privacy curtain around his bed to fashion a noose. The curtain should have been designed to break away when pressure was applied, said the Kellers' attorney Andrew Tisdale.

"It was like leaving a razor blade in a day-care center," Mr. Tisdale said Wednesday.

A report on Mr. Keller's death prepared by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General noted that there are about 30,000 suicides in the United States every year. About 5 percent take place in hospitals and 70 percent of suicides on hospital wards are from hanging.

According to the lawsuit, Mr. Keller was seen at the Uptown Division on Oct. 28, 2006. He was suffering from depression, adjustment disorder and anxiety. He also had thoughts of suicide.

Mr. Keller was admitted to the center's locked mental health ward. About 12 hours later he was found dead.

The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems and the Veterans Health Administration all have guidelines on suicide prevention strategies for hospitals. Included is the requirement to eliminate or mitigate environmental risk factors.

The Inspector General's report noted the VA Medical Center should have had the required low-weight breakaway hardware on the mental health ward.

After Mr. Keller's death the center's staff immediately modified its mental health wards to remove private curtains and towel bars, which also posed a possible danger for suicidal patients.

Also in response, the National Center for Patient Safety sent out a safety alert on the privacy curtains in February 2007.