@article{ref1,
title="Commentary: Medical errors, sentinel events, and malpractice",
journal="The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law",
year="2006",
author="Simon, Robert I.",
volume="34",
number="1",
pages="99-100",
abstract="Medical errors do not necessarily represent negligence. Even when a mental health professional deviates from the standard of care, minor injury to a patient is unlikely to result in a lawsuit. The standard of care is not the same as the quality of care. Quality of care refers to the total care a patient receives, the patient's health care decisions, and the available mental health services. As defined by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), &quot;sentinel events,&quot; such as a patient's suicide, do not necessarily imply that a deviation in the standard of care occurred. Psychiatrists and hospital staff are held to an &quot;ordinarily employed&quot; standard of practice. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines recommend evidence-based care related to patient needs and values. Both JCAHO and IOM promote best practices. Experts err when they testify to a best practice standard in malpractice cases.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1093-6793",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}