Citation

Daniel AE. J. Correct. Health Care 2009; 15(1): 19-27.

Affiliation

Daniel Correctional Psychiatric Services, Inc, and the University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65203, USA. aedaniel@aol.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, National Commission on Correctional Health Care (USA), Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1078345808326618

PMID

19477808

Abstract

Litigation related to suicide in jails and prisons is not an uncommon occurrence. This article summarizes the basic legal premises behind such litigations, which involve claims of medical malpractice and/or deliberate indifference. Common causes of omissions and commissions in correctional mental health care practice leading to such litigation are outlined. A few select court decisions are reviewed and, based on the author's experience, risk management strategies and procedures for clinicians and for correctional officers are provided.

Language: en