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Closing a practice on behalf of a psychiatrist (for legal representatives)
Death of a psychiatrist
In the event of the death of a private practice psychiatrist who is holding health records, the responsibility and obligations of the health records will rest with the ‘legal representative’ of the psychiatrist. Colleagues of the deceased psychiatrist will often, where possible, offer assistance to the legal representative to try to ensure safe care of the patients concerned.
Private practice psychiatrists should consider preparing a practice closure contingency plan in the event of their sudden and unexpected illness, incapacitation or death. Refer to:
About this information
For enquiries about this information, contact policy@ranzcp.org.
Disclaimer: This information is intended to provide general guide to practitioners, and should not be relied on as a substitute for proper assessment with respect to the merits of each case and the needs of the patient. The RANZCP endeavours to ensure that information is accurate and current at the time of preparation, but takes no responsibility for matters arising from changed circumstances or information or material that may have become subsequently available.
