Biomaterial Database

Legal problems in inpatient psychiatry. 1986

I N Perr

Department of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway 08854-5635.

This paper has discussed broadly a panorama of legal issues which may arise in the practice of inpatient psychiatry. Such a discussion can only be general and may not apply in a specific jurisdiction. Psychiatrists in inpatient settings should be familiar with all the issues raised and with local practices. Psychiatry is a field of medicine with a multitude of legal problems, more so than other medical specialties. Psychiatrists therefore have the obligation to themselves, their hospitals, and their patients to be cognizant of the legal issues in psychiatric practice. Hopefully, the more that they know, the less likely they are to be confronted with claims that they did not pay attention to this essential aspect of inpatient psychiatric practice.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007258	Informed Consent	Voluntary authorization, by a patient or research subject, with full comprehension of the risks involved, for diagnostic or investigative procedures, and for medical and surgical treatment.	Consent, Informed
D008318	Malpractice	Failure of a professional person, a physician or lawyer, to render proper services through reprehensible ignorance or negligence or through criminal intent, especially when injury or loss follows. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed)	Professional Negligence,Negligence,Negligence, Professional,Professional Negligences
D010349	Patient Compliance	Voluntary cooperation of the patient in following a prescribed regimen.	Client Adherence,Client Compliance,Non-Adherent Patient,Patient Adherence,Patient Cooperation,Patient Noncompliance,Patient Non-Adherence,Patient Non-Compliance,Patient Nonadherence,Therapeutic Compliance,Treatment Compliance,Adherence, Client,Adherence, Patient,Client Compliances,Compliance, Client,Compliance, Patient,Compliance, Therapeutic,Compliance, Treatment,Cooperation, Patient,Non Adherent Patient,Non-Adherence, Patient,Non-Adherent Patients,Non-Compliance, Patient,Nonadherence, Patient,Noncompliance, Patient,Patient Non Adherence,Patient Non Compliance,Patient, Non-Adherent,Therapeutic Compliances,Treatment Compliances
D011567	Psychiatric Department, Hospital	Hospital department responsible for the organization and administration of psychiatric services.	Hospital Psychiatric Department,Psychiatric Departments, Hospital,Department, Hospital Psychiatric,Departments, Hospital Psychiatric,Hospital Psychiatric Departments
D011570	Psychiatry	The medical science that deals with the origin, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders.
D003134	Commitment of Mentally Ill	Legal process required for the institutionalization of a patient with severe mental problems.	Outpatient Commitment,Commitment, Outpatient,Mentally Ill Commitments
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013405	Suicide	The act of killing oneself.	Suicides
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.