The role of the doctor when a patient commits suicide

Abstract

The literature concerning psychiatrists' responses to patient suicide is sparse (Brown, 1987; Chemtob et al, 1988; Alexander et al, 2000) but even less attention has been given to the psychiatrist's role in the aftermath of such an event. Psychiatrists infrequently discuss their own experience of patient suicide with their colleagues, either at an individual level (Kaye & Soreff, 1991) or in group settings such as team meetings (Ruben, 1990). This is all the more remarkable when one acknowledges that the suicide of a patient is arguably the event that causes most concern for clinicians, irrespective of their experience or seniority (Kaye & Soreff, 1991).