Malpractice and the psychiatrist : a primer for residents

Over the past two decades, the number of malpractice claims filed against psychiatrists has risen steadily, so that about 6% of all psychiatrists are named in new lawsuits each year. Psychiatrists-in-training are just as susceptible to lawsuits as their board-certified colleagues, and psychiatric residents work in settings where the likelihood of events that generate litigation is high. This primer introduces residents to the major issues involved in psychiatric malpractice. The article also discusses aspects of clinical practice that are especially affected by potential malpractice liability and outlines practical methods for limiting vulnerability to adverse malpractice litigation.