title: Suicide-related litigation in jails and prisons: risk management strategies.
abstract: Litigation related to suicide in jails and prisons is not an uncommon occurrence. This article summarizes the basic legal premises behind such litigations, which involve claims of medical malpractice and/or deliberate indifference. Common causes of omissions and commissions in correctional mental health care practice leading to such litigation are outlined. A few select court decisions are reviewed and, based on the author's experience, risk management strategies and procedures for clinicians and for correctional officers are provided.
authors.affiliation: Daniel Correctional Psychiatric Services, Inc, and the University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65203, USA. aedaniel@aol.com
authors.forename: Anasseril E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Daniel
mesh_terms: D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011330:Prisons / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012308:Risk Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013405:Suicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention