Liability of Hospital and Psychiatrist in Suicide

Perr, Irwin N.

doi:10.1176/ajp.122.6.631

Cited by 25 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Whenever a patient is hospitalized because of suicidal tendencies, hospital staff are obligated to provide a safe environment, protecting suicidal patients from their own self-destructive tendencies (Perr, 1965). The therapist does not ensure the treatment will be effective in correcting the patient's problems, but the therapist must provide reasonable services that follow accepted treatment procedures (Perr, 1965).…”

Section: Brief Inpatient Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The therapist does not ensure the treatment will be effective in correcting the patient's problems, but the therapist must provide reasonable services that follow accepted treatment procedures (Perr, 1965). In one instance, a patient was obviously suicidal and had tried to jump out a window.…”

Section: Brief Inpatient Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The standard of care does not ensure treatment will be effective, only that it conforms to accepted practices (Perr, 1965). However, the paucity of research on treatment of suicidal crises has prevented the establishment of a standard approach to treatment for suicidal patients.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, suicide precautions may be used excessively in order to protect patients without necessarily giving them opportunities to make more lasting changes (Halleck, 1980). Both overly protective and overly permissive treatment can be hazardous, though in Merent ways (Perr, 1960). Therapists working with suicidal patients must be aware of both therapeutic risks and legal risks.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Treatment of suicidal patients: A risk‐benefit analysis

Overholser

1995

Behavioral Sci & The Law

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A therapist may be held liable when a patient commits suicide if previous suicidal tendencies were observed but reasonable precautions were not taken. In order to reduce liability and enhance treatment effectiveness, therapeutic decisions can be critiqued by estimating the risks and benefits associated with different courses of action. An evaluation of risks and benefits can be used to guide decisions regarding assessment, hospitalization, medications, and discharge from the hospital. A risk-benefit analysis can help therapists utilize a broad range of treatment options while allowing patients the maximum degree of autonomy. Additionally, all aspects of treatment should be well documented, including information about the specific course of action chosen, other treatment options considered, and the therapeutic rationale for deciding which treatment plan was best suited to the patient's needs.

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Section: Brief Inpatient Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Brief Inpatient Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Treatment of suicidal patients: A risk‐benefit analysis

Overholser

1995

Behavioral Sci & The Law

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“…No study has, however, sought to focus on the specific features of the problem in the context of the general hospital psychiatric department. Regarding the overall picture for the general hospital, Perr (1965) claims that the incidence is ten times greater than in psychiatric facilities whereas Friedman and Cancellieri (1958) noted no sui cide attempt in their hospital over a 5-year period.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicide in a General Hospital Psychiatric Department

Lerer

Avni

1976

Psychopathology

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An analysis of the 7 cases of suicide in the Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, during the period 1965–1974, is presented. The problems relating to the management of suicidal patients in a general hospital psychiatric department are considered. An accent on acute pathology, short hospitalizations and ‘problem cases’ in respect of diagnosis and treatment, are seen as factors of importance as well as the coexistence of different treatment models. The absence of adequate facilities for isolation and restraint is considered with reference to the controversy regarding the efficacy of precautionary measures in preventing hospital suicide. Problems not necessarily specific to the general hospital psychiatric department such as assessment of suicidal intent in the light of suicidal threats and ideation, the significance of previous suicide attempts and difficulties in the therapist-patient relationship, were also found to have played a crucial role in the cases presented.

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Malpractice in psychiatry

Halleck

1979

New Directions for Mental Health Services

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Liability of Hospital and Psychiatrist in Suicide

Cited by 25 publications

References 11 publications

Treatment of suicidal patients: A risk‐benefit analysis

Treatment of suicidal patients: A risk‐benefit analysis

Suicide in a General Hospital Psychiatric Department

Malpractice in psychiatry

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