title: Hospital suicides: lawsuits and standards.
abstract: Based on personal experience as an expert witness in litigation following Hospital Suicides, the following recommendations are made: every hospital should have a Suicide Prevention Committee which establishes written guidelines after surveying security areas and talking with staff and patients. Reasonable treatment requires that each patient be evaluated for suicide risk, that a treatment plan be formulated, and that staff follow the treatment plan according to the hospital's own policies.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011361:Professional Competence; D012306:Risk; D013405:Suicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention