Citation

Light DW. Am. J. Sociol. 1972; 77(5): 821-838.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1972, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/225226

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Combining theoretical and empirical material, this paper outlines why mistakes and acts which might be regarded as mistakes are an important vehicle for analyzing the social organization of professional work. It investigates a major event of potential error in psychiatry-suicide of a patient-as a means of understanding basic beliefs and organizational feature of the psychiatric profession. Based on participant observation and interviews, the evidence is also supported by all previous studies on this subject. In presenting its argument, the paper brings together a body of psychiatric literature on professional response to suicide not previously organized.