When warning signs are missed: suicide and medical malpractice in non-psychiatric settings

Clicks: 32
ID: 322672
2026
Free PDF
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal
Steady

Ranked #23 of 192 articles by views in qjm : monthly journal of the association of physicians

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale. Only the 120 most-read articles are drawn; the journal has 192 in total.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Sign in to mint
Abstract
Abstract Suicide is a leading cause of mortality worldwide and continues to present significant clinical and medico-legal challenges across healthcare settings. Although suicide is commonly viewed as a psychiatric issue, many individuals who die by suicide have recent contact with non-psychiatric clinicians, particularly in primary care, emergency departments, and general hospital units. This article examines suicide in non-psychiatric settings from both clinical and legal perspectives. It discusses epidemiological evidence demonstrating the important role of general medical physicians in suicide prevention, identifies medical conditions associated with increased suicide risk, and reviews the evolving legal standards governing physician responsibility. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of timely suicide risk assessment, thorough documentation, effective communication, appropriate referral, and coordinated follow-up. The article also examines common allegations in suicide-related malpractice claims and highlights risk-reduction strategies supported by current clinical guidelines. Integrating systematic suicide prevention practices into routine medical care can improve patient safety while reducing medico-legal liability for non-psychiatric clinicians.
Reference Key
openalex_W7171384204 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Leo Sher
Are you one of these authors? Claim your profile
Journal qjm : monthly journal of the association of physicians
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/qjmed/hcag204
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcag204
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.