Malpractice liability in a patient's suicide.

The increased number of malpractice suits has had an impact on the practice of medicine. Fourteen of the most common reasons for suits against psychiatrists are listed. Prominent among them is the failure to care for an obvious suicide risk. The suicidal potential of all patients must be explored. Affirmative answers to three or more of twelve questions point to a high suicide risk, and psychiatric hospitalization should be seriously considered. Specific suicide precautions should be indicated. The legal doctrine of "res ipsa loquitur" in relation to malpractice suits is discussed. It is concluded that there are not fixed legal standards of care or supervision of suicidal patients.