Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:806-810
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
Responsibility and compensation for tardive dyskinesia
PS Appelbaum, K Schaffner and A Meisel
Lawsuits seeking compensation for the suffering caused by tardive
dyskinesia are becoming more common. Although most mental health
professionals view the problem in the context of malpractice litigation,
tardive dyskinesia is an example of a "mass accident," for which there are
a number of judicially created remedies. These remedies include placing
liability on manufacturers, asking society as a whole to bear the burden,
and allowing patients with tardive dyskinesia to continue to carry the
costs of their injuries. In attempting to influence policy in this area,
psychiatrists should be sensitive to the implications of any policy for
patient care.
