New Mexico Psychiatric Malpractice Lawyers
Mental illness affects nearly 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. and ranges from ADHD to severe cases such as schizophrenia and manic depression. For those who suffer from mental illness, choosing to seek professional help can be a choice between life and death. Mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and other licensed mental health professionals all contribute to supporting those with mental illness in many different ways.
Mental health professionals have to abide by professional ethics and maintain a high level of professional care. Any deviation or negligence on their part can cause catastrophic injury and hardship to those affected. If you believe that you or someone you love has been affected by the negligence of a mental health professional, contact a psychiatric malpractice negligence lawyer to discuss your circumstances.
How Does Mental Health Negligence or Psychiatric Malpractice Occur?
Mental health professionals serve in a multitude of ways depending on education, licensing, and area of expertise. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat mental health, and psychologists or social workers typically involve talk therapy and other therapeutic mental health treatments. When a mental health professional fails to provide their patient with proper care, and it results in mental or physical injury, they can be held liable.
The following are ways in which mental health professionals can be negligent:
- Misdiagnosis
- Failing to diagnose a serious condition
- Breaching confidentiality standards
- Physical and/or mental abuse
- Threatening the patient
- Sexual abuse
- Abuse of power
Unfortunately, for many people who experience mental health negligence or psychiatric malpractice, their voices may never get heard due to the nature of mental health. If you suspect a mental health professional is mistreating someone you love, it is important that you document what you have noticed, and contact Dominguez Law Firm in New Mexico to get help and guidance on how to proceed when mental health negligence occurs.
Understanding Psychiatric Malpractice in New Mexico
Mental health professionals have to abide by strict ethical codes of conduct and maintain boundaries with patients. They are under a code of “do no harm” and have the responsibility of helping individuals and keeping them from experiencing life-threatening conditions. Failure to uphold this code of conduct can result in detrimental consequences, the worst being suicide. With the nature of privacy and patient-psychiatrist confidentiality, it can be challenging to prove direct causation between the actions of the psychiatrist and a negative outcome by the patient.
Contact an Experienced New Mexico Mental Health Negligence Attorney
If you feel you are a victim of mental health negligence or psychiatric malpractice, we recommend contacting one of our attorneys who can sit down with you and determine the validity of your case. No one should become a victim of these circumstances, and negligent medical professionals should be held liable for the pain and suffering they cause.
Our lawyers at Dominguez Law Firm are compassionate and professional and will fight for the rights of those who have suffered at the hands of negligent mental health professionals. Our law office is located in Albuquerque, and we serve clients throughout New Mexico. Call (505) 317-9837 or fill out our contact form and one of our representatives will contact you.