Calculated Risk-Taking in the Treatment of Suicidal Patients: Ethical and Legal Problems (IN: Treatment of Suicidal People, ed. by A. A. Leenaars et al)

Maltsberger discusses the legal & ethical problems associated with the hospitalization &/or discharge of suicidal patients. In some cases it may be ethical, but not legally prudent, to discharge these patients. In other cases the benefits of discharge can be demonstrated to outweigh the risks of continued confinement. Examples of patients suffering from depression, schizophrenia & chronic suicidal personality disorders are used to illustrate these situations. (24 refs.)