Mental Health Lawsuits: Therapy to the Courtroom

Lawsuits in the industry of mental health can stem from many issues and may involve mental health professionals like therapists or psychiatrists, entire healthcare institutions, clients, or patients.

The intersection of mental health and the legal system is very complex and marked by nuanced ethical considerations, professional standards, and the well-being of patients.

In this article, we’ll explore the complicated landscape where legal action and mental health practices converge, from malpractice claims to wrongful termination, child custody, and more.

Malpractice claims

One significant cause of lawsuits within the mental healthcare sector is malpractice claims. Malpractice claims could mean negligence in diagnosis or treatment, leading to legal action. Patients might also file a suit if they feel they weren’t adequately informed of the risks and benefits of a particular treatment.

For example, if a doctor fails to inform a patient of the potential side effects of a hair loss medication and that patient experiences debilitating mental health effects or even becomes suicidal, a lawsuit may be filed.

Breach of confidentiality

Mental health professionals are bound by ethical and legal obligations to maintain patient privacy. In situations where there are breaches of confidentiality, whether intentional or unintentional, they may lead to legal consequences.

However, some circumstances may require a mental health professional to break confidentiality, such as in scenarios where a client may be a threat to themselves or others. In such situations, professionals are legally bound to report them.

False memory claims

In some legal cases, patients may experience situations claiming therapists implanted false memories or contributed to the creation of false beliefs during therapy sessions. This can result in legal action, especially if those false memories result in harm. The claims have significant legal and ethical implications and often involve complex considerations.

Some therapeutic techniques, such as recovered memory therapy, are more associated with the creation of false memories, and while these can be valuable in certain situations, they also carry risks.

The nature of the therapist-client relationship is crucial to these claims, and some patients may argue that the power dynamics that exist within these relationships may influence them to accept or believe false information.

Suicide and self-harm cases

Cases involving suicide or self-harm may raise questions about the adequacy of care and supervision, leading to legal action, especially if the surviving family members believe negligence took place. Proving whether a healthcare professional and team didn’t provide adequate care can be a complicated process, especially if the victim is not available to stake the claim themselves.

Treatment refusal or wrongful terminations

If you weren’t aware of it, therapists and mental health teams can fire clients and patients. This typically arises due to a change of location, a lack of the ability to pay fees for services, the scope of care required exceeding the abilities of the professional, and other similar scenarios.

In some cases, patients may tell mental health professionals or institutions if they believe they were wrongfully terminated from treatment or if they were refused treatment without proper justification.

However, letting go of clients isn’t easy, and it’s recommended that professionals make adjustments to disclosure agreements as a safeguard.

Defamation Mental Health Lawsuits

Defamation lawsuits typically arise when false statements about a patient are made, harming their reputation. It can occur as slander (spoken) or libel (written). Defamation lawsuits may arise out of false accusations, misrepresentations of facts, breaches of confidentiality, or third-party disclosures.

In defamation suits, the plaintiff not only has to demonstrate that the statements were false but that they were intentionally used to harm their reputation.

Mental health professionals must be mindful of the ethical and legal boundaries surrounding patient confidentiality and communications. They also must be aware of specific laws governing confidentiality and defamation in their jurisdictions to mitigate the risks of a legal dispute occurring.

Discrimination claims

Discrimination claims within the mental health sector may arise when individuals assert they’ve been mistreated or have prejudices against immutable characteristics such as race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected attributes.

However, several factors contribute to the complexity of such cases, like cultural competence, implicit bias, intersectionality, institutional policies, microaggressions, and bias in diagnosis and treatment.

Addressing discrimination claims requires a comprehensive understanding of the legal and ethical standards that govern the mental health industry. Mental health professionals not only need to actively work to promote diversity, inclusivity, and equity, but they also need to receive training on cultural competence and participate in ongoing self-reflection.

Child custody

Mental health evaluations and expert testimony from mental health professionals are often used in child custody cases, centred on the assessment of a parent’s mental and emotional fitness to care for their children.

These evaluations can play a crucial role in legal proceedings. The goal is to see if a parent is fit to provide a stable and supportive environment for the child.

This may include psychological testing of parents, interviews with children and their perspectives on one or both parents, scheduling home visits to observe the living conditions and parenting practices in the home, co-parenting assessments, a review of a parent’s mental health history, and more.

Insurance disputes

When mental health professionals and insurance companies disagree on reimbursement, coverage, or denied claims, a legal dispute may be filed. These disputes come with significant financial implications for health practitioners and can involve a range of issues.

For example, mental health professionals typically enter into contracts with insurance companies specifying reimbursement rates for their services.

If there are disagreements over the agreed-upon rates, changes in reimbursement policies, or the calculation of fees, this can result in a lawsuit. Resolving these issues requires communication between both parties to clarify misunderstandings, provide additional information, or appeal decisions.