Believe it or not, over one-forth of adult Americans suffer from some sort of mental illness, as reported by the National Institute of Mental Health. And the majority of these sufferers will seek treatment from a professional for their symptoms at some point. Given these numbers, it’s inevitable that situations of psychiatric malpractice will also arise. So what should one look for when determining whether they have been a victim?
Psychiatric malpractice occurs when a psychiatrist or psychotherapist engages in misconduct when treating their patients, or fails to provide service within a particular standard of care within the industry.
A few of the more common types of psychiatric malpractice include:
- Misdiagnosis of medication
- Breach of patient’s privacy
- Failure to properly treat
- Engaging in sexual or personal relations with patients
- Failure to diagnose
- Mental or physical abuse
Due to the vulnerable and sometimes volatile nature of many people who seek psychiatric care, mental health professionals should be expected to act with the utmost of professionalism and care. Errors or negligence by a psychiatrist or psychotherapist can be devastating. In some cases, it can even be a matter of life and death for a patient.
If you have suffered as a result of shoddy psychiatric treatment, you have the right to fight back. Discuss your situation with a medical lawyer today.
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