A clinician is not held liable simply because something bad happened, e.g., a side effect occurred or a patient harmed himself. A clinician is held liable if it was his negligence that led to the harm. Therefore, we must be seen to take the appropriate precautions to reduce the risk of bad outcomes.
Here are some valuable resources with practical tips about risk management:
Suicide
Practical pointers for managing risk when treating patients with suicidal behaviors (PRMS)
Lessons to be learned: A review of post-suicide malpractice lawsuits (PRMS)
Termination of treatment
Termination of treatment
Termination of the physician-patient relationship (PRMS)
Termination of the physician-patient relationship: Do’s & Dont’s (PRMS)
Prescribing
Prescribing controlled substances: Managing the risks (PRMS)
Myths & Misconceptions: Patients who obtain multiple prescriptions (PRMS)
Medication samples in the office: Understand the risks to the patient and to the psychiatrist (PRMS)
Risk Management Considerations When Patients Are Noncompliant With Medications (Psychiatric News)
Special populations
Reducing risk when prescribing for children and adolescents (PRMS)
Practical risk management pointers for the treatment of geropsychiatric patients (PRMS)
Supervision and Consultation
The “curbside” consult and what it means for you (PRMS)
Supervision of nurse practitioners
Other
Failing to plan…is planning to fail (PRMS)
Risk Management Considerations When Treating Fellow Physicians (Psychiatric News)
A golden rule for documentation (YouTube video)
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