ROLE OF A NURSE IN LEGAL PSYCHIATRY:

1)  Standard Care: The nurse must function at laid down standards and keep up with the standard of  care by  knowing the policies  & procedures of  an institution. 

2)  Legal Duty:  If  nurse observes an action which may harm  to  the patient, she would intervene immediately and protect the patient from injury. 

3)  Confidentiality and privilege: Confidentiality relates  to  the responsibility  of the nurse'to  keep all information, records and correspondence, confidential and to allow access to those who  take care of  the patient. Privileges relate to the relationship of  a particular nurse to a client and provide protection of the informations obtained from him as. a result of  their relationship. 

4)  Informed Consent: Consent  is  a competent client's voluntary agreement  to treatment after being given information about the treatment. Nurse should explain each procedure to the patient and relatives before doing it. She must allow the patient and  relative to express  their views and answer to any question which need  to be clarified. - 

5)  Malpractice: The  term malpractice  is  often used inter-changeably with negligence  to define the acts of  a professional person that are called  into questions because  of  the  lack of  due  care.