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Three Reasons You May Have A Malpractice Case Against A Psychiatrist

29 August 2016

Mattie Bennett

When people hear someone speak of medical malpractice, they often think of a medical doctor, surgeon, nurse, or a general hospital, but psychiatrists are also medical doctors. If you or a loved one has been in the care of a psychiatrist or spent time in a psychiatric facility, it is possible that a malpractice has occurred. The following are three situations that can happen that may constitute malpractice.

Improper medication or monitoring of medication

It is possible for a patient to be given the wrong medication, or in some situations, to be given the right medication but in the wrong dosages. Too little or too much of the right drug can have an adverse effect on a patient's health.

In addition, a patient can be given new medication, but their reaction to it is not being monitored properly, nor are blood tests being done to make sure there are no problems developing with the patient's health. Lithium is an example of a drug that can be a malpractice issue with psychiatrists and psychiatric institutions.

Malpractice related to attempted suicide

Your loved one has attempted suicide, and even though unsuccessful, they harmed themselves in the process. There are many areas of negligence that may create a situation of malpractice with attempted suicide. Sometimes a patient's attempt was not their first, but the hospital staff were not aware of the full extent of the problem because it was not documented. This can lead to inadequate supervision, and this in turn gives a patient an opportunity to attempt suicide that they should not have had. If your loved one has actually committed suicide in a hospital environment, there may be a case of wrongful death. This is a form of malpractice.

The patient is being physically abused

This often occurs in a hospital environment but can also occur on an outpatient basis at a psychiatrist's office. The latter abuse can involve a sexual relationship, and this is not only unethical, but in many circumstances, it can form the basis of a malpractice lawsuit.

Abuse inside of a hospital can take many forms. Sometimes it can take the form of neglect, and this leads to the deterioration of a patient's health. Depending upon the condition of the patient, it may be a matter of protecting the patient from harming themselves or protecting them from being harmed by other patients.

In all of the situations listed above, harm has occurred to the patient due to various forms of abuse or neglect. If you or a loved one has suffered because of something mentioned in this article or in some other way, you should contact a malpractice attorney, such as those found at R.J. Marzella & Associates, P.C., for a consultation.

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