Clinicians are not held liable simply because something bad happened, e.g., a side effect occurred or a patient harmed himself. Clinicians are held liable if it was their negligence that led to the harm. So, we must make sure we take the appropriate precautions to reduce the risk of bad outcomes and that our actions and reasoning are documented.
Here are some valuable resources with practical tips about risk management. A few of them are articles on this website. The others are from PRMS, a leading malpractice insurance company (used with their permission) or links to articles on other websites.
Prescribing
What are the regulations regarding prescribing out-of-state?
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)
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)
Special populations
Reducing risk when prescribing for children and adolescents (PRMS)
Practical risk management pointers for the treatment of geropsychiatric patients (PRMS)
Risk Management Considerations When Treating Fellow Physicians (Psychiatric News)
Supervision and Consultation
The “curbside” consult and what it means for you (PRMS)
Supervision of nurse practitioners
Termination of treatment
Termination of treatment
Termination of the physician-patient relationship (PRMS)
Termination of the physician-patient relationship: Do’s & Dont’s (PRMS)
Other
Failing to plan…is planning to fail (PRMS)
Risk Management Considerations When Evaluating Fitness for Duty (Psychiatric News)
A golden rule for documentation (YouTube video)
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