Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Nursing Ethical Principles II

Nursing Ethical Principles II

Ethical principles are essential in guiding nurses to fulfill their responsibilities, focusing on the quality of nursing care and decision-making. These principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, shape the ethical framework within healthcare settings.
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...

Ethical Issues

Ethical Issues

Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:

Torts I

Torts I

Torts in nursing are wrongful acts that can harm patients and potentially lead to civil liability for the involved nurse. These wrongful acts range from unintentional errors to deliberate actions. Depending on the nature and severity of the tort, a nurse found liable may face financial penalties or disciplinary actions. Understanding the distinctions between intentional, quasi-intentional, and unintentional torts is crucial for nurses to mitigate risks and provide safe patient care.
Intentional...

Accountability and Responsibility of a Nurse I

Accountability and Responsibility of a Nurse I

Accountability in nursing is a fundamental principle that underscores the obligation of nurses to take responsibility for their actions and answer for any errors or omissions in patient care. This principle is grounded in the professional, legal, and ethical frameworks that shape nursing practice. For instance, nurses must adhere to all relevant laws, regulations, and practice standards, including guidelines set forth by nursing boards and professional bodies, to ensure their actions comply...

Accountability and Responsibility of a Nurse II

Accountability and Responsibility of a Nurse II

Professional accountability in nursing is a multifaceted concept that encompasses professional ethics, legal standards, and employment expectations. This framework ensures that nurses maintain and elevate the quality of care while upholding the values of their profession. It compels them to treat patients, families, and colleagues with respect, compassion, and integrity.
For example, a nurse demonstrating respect and compassion might listen attentively to a patient's concerns, provide...

Nurses' Legal Responsibilities II

Nurses' Legal Responsibilities II

Establishing a secure, collaborative nurse-patient relationship is crucial for delivering high-quality care. This relationship, founded on trust, respect, and honesty, enhances the patient's comfort and willingness to share vital health information. For example, a nurse who listens actively and without judgment provides clear information about health conditions and treatment options and respects patient decisions, which builds a trusting relationship.
Communication between nurses and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

How Mental Illness Influences Pretrial Release Decisions for People Charged with Misdemeanors.

The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law·2025

Same author

Youth Inpatient and Residential Treatment Psychiatric Beds: National Trends and Potential Causal Factors, 2010-2022.

Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)·2025

Same author

Attending to Persons with Intellectual and/or Other Developmental Disorders in Crisis Settings.

The Psychiatric clinics of North America·2024

Same author

Examining the Impact of State-Level Factors on HIV Testing for Medicaid Enrollees With Schizophrenia.

Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)·2023

Same author

A legal dispute resolution intervention for patients with substance use disorders: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BMC public health·2023

Same author

Examining Perceived Coercion in Drug Treatment Courts.

International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology·2022

Same journal

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids: Emerging Use Disorder, Mechanisms of Action, and Clinical Considerations for Pharmacotherapy.

Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)·2026

Same journal

Major Depression and Antidepressant Treatment: Impact on Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes.

Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)·2026

Same journal

Violence Risk Factors in Psychiatric Populations.

Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)·2026

Same journal

Contextualizing Violence Risk Associated With Hallucinogens.

Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)·2026

Same journal

Ethical and Legal Aspects of Forensic Psychiatry.

Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)·2026

Same journal

From Fear to Framework: Toward Understanding of Violence and Mental Illness.

Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Implementation of a Real-Time Psychosis Risk Detection and Alerting System Based on Electronic Health Records using CogStack

Implementation of a Real-Time Psychosis Risk Detection and Alerting System Based on Electronic Health Records using CogStack

Published on: May 15, 2020

Liability and Patient Suicide.

Debra A Pinals¹

¹Program in Psychiatry, Law, and Ethics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)

|February 13, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Psychiatrists can reduce malpractice liability by understanding suicide phenomenology and conducting thorough risk assessments. Effective risk management, including means reduction and documentation, is crucial for patient safety and mitigating legal risks.

Keywords:

Suicide liability malpractice risk risk assessment safety plan

More Related Videos

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Implementation of a Real-Time Psychosis Risk Detection and Alerting System Based on Electronic Health Records using CogStack

Implementation of a Real-Time Psychosis Risk Detection and Alerting System Based on Electronic Health Records using CogStack

Published on: May 15, 2020

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Forensic Psychiatry
Risk Management

Background:

Suicide poses a significant liability risk for psychiatrists treating adult patients.
Understanding suicide phenomenology and clinical risk assessment is key to reducing liability.
Malpractice cases involving suicide require careful examination of foreseeability and risk assessment protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

To review essential elements for adult psychiatry practitioners regarding suicide risk, assessment, and liability.
To provide a framework for understanding and mitigating suicide-related risks in clinical practice.
To highlight the importance of proper assessment and documentation in reducing psychiatrist liability.

Main Methods:

Review of clinical perspectives on suicide phenomenology.
Analysis of malpractice case unfolding and foreseeability in suicide risk.
Examination of risk management strategies, including means reduction and firearm safety.
Discussion of the role of suicide screening tools and detailed risk assessment.

Main Results:

Suicide screening tools can be a useful first step in identifying patients needing further assessment.
Distinguishing nonsuicidal self-injury from suicidal intent is important, though both carry risks.
Means reduction, risk management planning, and firearm safety are essential for mitigating suicide risk.
Proper assessment and meticulous documentation are vital for reducing liability.

Conclusions:

Comprehensive suicide risk assessment and management are critical for minimizing psychiatrist liability.
Integrating understanding of suicide phenomenology, clinical assessment, and risk mitigation strategies is essential.
Adherence to best practices in assessment and documentation can significantly reduce the potential for adverse outcomes and legal repercussions.