Ending Psych Treatment Does Not Close Door on Malpractice Lawsuits

Problems arising from beginning and ending treatment with some patients can place psychiatrists at risk of being named defendants in malpractice suits, according to David Cash, J.D., an attorney and senior risk manager with Professional Risk Management Services Inc. (PRMS), the company that manages the APA-endorsed Psychiatrists' Professional Liability Insurance Program. They recently held a seminar to brief Pyschs on how to avoid legal problems. Psychiatrists should avoid prescribing large quantities of medication to the patient before terminating treatment, Cash said, and should never terminate treatment with a patient who has become a danger to himself or herself or others.

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