JAMA · 1990 · 30 citations · 0 references
LawHealth LawPsychiatryDuty Of CareMedical MalpracticeProfessional LiabilityMedical NegligencePhysician LiabilityPsychiatric HarmPsychiatric MalpracticeDoctor-patient DutyHealthcare Professional MisconductMental Health Professional LiabilityPatient Data ConfidentialityPsychological Abuse In HealthcarePsychotherapist Duty To ProtectPsychotherapist-patient DutyPublic Property Damage
In 1982 in Los Angeles, Dr Anderson was sued by Mrs Handler, the wife of his patient (Mr Handler), who had caused her a severe burn injury by setting their house on fire. Dr Anderson was also sued by both Mrs Caspe, a neighbor who claimed that she suffered emotional trauma in experiencing the incident, and by the landlord of the house for the property damage that was done. At the time of the incident, Dr Anderson had already been sued by Mr Handler himself because the good doctor warned the patient's wife on two previous occasions of his potential dangerousness, thus violating doctor/ patient confidentiality. In 1987 Dr Anderson quit practicing medicine; he is now a third-year law student at UCLA. In reflecting on the subject, he thinks that the doctor (in this case himself, of course) should also have been sued by the husband of the neighbor, Mr