Knapp, S. (2024).
Professional Psychology:
Research and Practice, 55(1), 1–10.
Abstract
Working with a suicidal patient is a high-risk enterprise for the patient who might die from suicide, the patient’s family who might lose a loved one, and the psychologist who is likely to feel extreme grief or fear of legal liability after the suicide of a patient. To minimize the likelihood of such patient deaths, psychologists must ensure that they know and follow the relevant laws dealing with suicidal patients, rely on risk management strategies that anticipate and address problems in treatment early, and use overarching ethical principles to guide their clinical decisions. This article looks at the roles of laws, risk management strategies, and ethical principles; how they interact; and how a proper understanding of them can improve the quality of patient care while protecting psychologists from legal liability.
Impact Statement
This article describes how understanding the roles and interactions of laws, risk management principles, and ethics can help psychotherapists improve the quality of their services to suicidal patients.
Here are some thoughts:
This article discusses the importance of understanding the roles and interactions of laws, risk management principles, and ethics when working with suicidal patients. It emphasizes how a proper understanding of these factors can improve the quality of patient care and protect psychologists from legal liability.
The article is important for psychologists because it provides guidance on navigating the complexities of treating suicidal patients. It offers insights into:
- Legal Considerations: Psychologists must be aware of and adhere to the laws governing psychological practice, including licensing laws, regulations of state and territorial boards of psychology, and other federal and state laws.
- Risk Management Strategies: The article highlights the importance of risk management strategies in anticipating problems, preventing misunderstandings, addressing issues early in treatment, and mitigating harm. It also warns against false risk management strategies that prioritize self-protection over patient well-being, such as refusing to treat suicidal patients or relying on no-suicide contracts.
- Ethical Principles: The article underscores the importance of ethical principles in guiding clinical decisions, justifying laws and risk management strategies, and resolving conflicts between ethical principles. It discusses the need to balance beneficence and respect for patient autonomy in various situations, such as involuntary hospitalization, red flag laws, welfare checks, and involving third parties in psychotherapy.
In summary, this article offers valuable guidance for psychologists working with suicidal patients, helping them to navigate the legal, ethical, and risk management challenges of this high-risk area of practice.