Professional Issues, Liability and Licensure: Six Psychiatric Malpractice Rulings

Six state courts issued decisions in psychiatric malpractice cases. These cases, which are reviewed briefly, include the duty of a psychiatrist to protect a patient with suicidal tendencies, negligent prescription of medication, the duty of a psychiatrist to recognize dangerous medical signs, liability of an insurer for a psychiatrist’s sexual acts with a patient, statutes of limitations in malpractice actions & the constitutionality of a state’s statute limiting malpractice awards. (LH)