MALPRACTICE RISKS CONFRONTING THE PSYCHIATRIST: A NATIONWIDE FIFTEEN-YEAR STUDY OF APPELLATE COURT CASES, 1946 TO 1961
Abstract
It is remarkable that this small series of clinical-legal psychiatric cases reflects nearly all the legal trends relating to malpractice found within high risk groups in medical practice : eminence is no protection against being sued for negligence; the courts are expecting a higher duty of care from the psychiatrist as the specialty gains status in the eyes of medicine and law; awards are beginning to appear against psychiatrists, and in increasing amounts; claims on the basis of unenlightened consent and breach of warranty are beginning to appear; the law of warranty, generally, is being applied in more cases; and the relative immunity from negligence action formerly enjoyed by hospitals (including charitable organizations) is rapidly being lost, if recent court decisions continue to prevail.
Access content
To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.- Personal login
- Institutional Login
- Sign in via OpenAthens
- Register for access
-
Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability.
Not a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).