Malpraxis in Psychiatry

Abstract

Given the increasing complexity of the modern health care environment and the increasing number of patients, reducing medical errors is a priority task for health as well as for policy and medical decision-makers. Forensic psychiatry as subspecialty of clinical psychiatry is guided by principles being used in cases with psychiatric, forensic and legal implications. In both psychiatry and any other medical specialty, malpractice may occur. The paper attempts to identify the risk factors of incorrect psychiatric diagnosis and professional misconduct in the exercise of the medical act generating harm to the patient. Knowing the risk factors inevitably leads to their avoidance.

Keywords

• psychiatry
• professional error
• risk factors