Intractably suicidal patients require much time & great energy from clinicians. Much of the anxiety they arouse comes from questions of admitting them to, or releasing them from, the hospital. The increasingly litigious climate in the USA makes the treatment of these patients difficult. This paper reviews the literature on the care of these patients, outlines the clinical principles for their management & treatment, & examines how to minimize legal exposure if there is a suicide. (56 refs.)