[Legal liability in suicide risk from the physician's viewpoint]

Liability after physical harm or death due to a suicide attempt is mainly caused by an insufficient medical care. This is true when the known rules regarding recognition and assessment of a possible suicide as well as the selection and the realization of securing actions are not observed or deviation from such actions cannot be explained. However, such deviations have to be possible within the scope of the physician's latitude since the recognition and the treatment of a possible suicide are linked to the multitude of the actual and individual situations. The necessary risk-benefit assessment may be very difficult regarding the necessary securing actions as well as regarding the treatment.