title: Emergency medicine, psychiatry, and the law.
abstract: The emergency department physician must assess, initiate treatment, and arrange for the disposition of patients whose presentation reflects disordered thinking, emotions, and behavior. Unique diagnostic, management, and medicolegal challenges must be met daily. Understanding the issues inherent in the various stages of involvement with such patients helps reduce medicolegal risk and facilitates the provision of appropriate health care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Armitage
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Townsend
mesh_terms: D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States