Malpractice Liability in a Patient’s Suicide

Herbert Waltzer, M.D.Authors Info & Affiliations

Publication: American Journal of Psychotherapy

Volume 34, Number 1

https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1980.34.1.89

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Abstract

The increased number of malpractice suits has had an impact on the practice of medicine. Fourteen of the most common reasons for suits against psychiatrists are listed. Prominent among them is the failure to care for an obvious suicide risk.

The suicidal potential of all patients must be explored. Affirmative answers to three or more of twelve questions point to a high suicide risk, and psychiatric hospitalization should be seriously considered. Specific suicide precautions should be indicated. The legal doctrine of “res ipsa loquitur” in relation to malpractice suits is discussed. It is concluded that there are no fixed legal standards of care or supervision of suicidal patients.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

American Journal of Psychotherapy

Volume 34 • Number 1 • 1980, pp. 1–147

Pages: 89 - 98

PubMed: 7369435

History

Published in print: 1980, pp. 1–147

Published online: 30 April 2018

Authors

Details

Herbert Waltzer, M.D.^†

Jamaica, N.Y.

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Notes

Revised version of paper presented at the annual meeting, American Psychiatric Association, Atlanta, Georgia, May 11, 1978.

†

Assistant Director, Department of Psychiatry, Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica, New York; Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Health Science Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook. Mailing address: 82-68 164th Street, Jamaica, N.Y. 11432.

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Malpractice Liability in a Patient’s Suicide

Abstract

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