Subjective Data and Suicide Assessment in the Light of Recent Legal Developments: Part II: Clinical Uses of Legal Standards in the Interpretation of Subjective Data

Addressed are problematic areas of suicide assessment & legal implications of assessments by the involved psychiatrist. Careful, documented use of subjective data in arriving at a reasoned clinical assessment satisfies all 3 major standards of due care typically invoked by courts in determining negligence. The 3 standards of care as well as the informed consent requirement can be turned to clinical advantage; that is, they can provide additional guidelines for clinical judgement. 59 refs.