Liability When Patients die After Treatment: how to Manage Requests for Pain Medication and Post-Discharge Suicide Risks

This article briefly discusses judicial rulings in two American cases where psychiatric patients died after treatment. In one case, the patient’s estate claimed the psychiatrist was negligent in discharging the patient from hospital without a post-discharge recovery plan. However, it was shown that such a plan was in place & the jury found for the defense. The author recommends complete documentation of all assessments & the reasons for decisions made as well as arranging for appropriate outpatient services. (4 refs.)