ABSTRACT
Psychiatrists today face a broad range of potential liabilities as a result of their professional activities. Consider the following scenario. A former patient has accused her psychiatrist of engaging in sexual activity with her during the course of treatment. As a result, (1) the psychiatrist faces criminal sexual assault charges; (2) he is being sued by the former patient for battery and malpractice; (3) the hospital with which he had been aliated has terminated his privileges; and (4) his insurance carrier says it will not bear the costs of his defense or pay any damages assessed against him at trial. is example illustrates the three types of practice-related legal disputes a psychiatrist is most likely to encounter: criminal, tort, and contract.
