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A panorama of the medicolegal aspects of suicide assessments: integrating multiple vantage points in improving quality, safety, and risk management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2022

Mayank Gupta Open the ORCID record for Mayank Gupta [Opens in a new window] ,
Nihit Gupta Open the ORCID record for Nihit Gupta [Opens in a new window]  and
Molly Robinson
Mayank Gupta*
Affiliation:
Clarion Psychiatric Center, Clarion, PA, USA
Nihit Gupta
Affiliation:
Reynolds Memorial Hospital, West Virginia University, Glendale, WV, USA
Molly Robinson
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
*
*Author for correspondence: Mayank Gupta, MD Email: mayank6nov@gmail.com
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Abstract

Epidemiological trends in global suicides have been of serious concern in the last decade. The burden of higher expectations in the assessment of suicidal behaviors on mental health professionals is mounting. However, the suicidal risk assessment has many evolving and moving parts, and is one of the most heavily researched fields in psychiatry. Although it is clear from current empirical research that suicide cannot accurately be predicted, the standard of care from regulatory bodies and professional organizations dictates the use of established measures and following consensus guidelines. However, the legal system has different parameters to assess for the deviation from these standards and views it from a different vantage point. Therefore, it is imperative to know these critical multifaceted panoramas of suicide assessment. Considering the gaps within suicide risk assessment tools, we propose that appropriate documentation and thorough treatment planning are key to navigating the complex medicolegal risks. These approaches are useful for risk management and improve clinical outcomes, quality of care, and overall patient safety.

Keywords

Suiciderisk assessmentmedicolegalsuicidal risk assessmentneurobiological factors in suicidesuicide foreseeabilitydocumentation of suicide risk
Type
Perspective
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 28 , Issue 3 , June 2023 , pp. 282 - 287
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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