---
title: "Check whether psychiatric harm is detriment proximately caused"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/personal-injury-and-compensation/check-a-pure-mental-harm-claim-for-a-recognised-psychiatric-illness/united-states"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A21-SB20261022-10-US"
practice_area: "Personal Injury & Compensation (workers compensation, CTP/TAC, medical negligence)"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["US"]
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# Check whether psychiatric harm is detriment proximately caused

> From the medical material the lawyer supplies, record the diagnosis in the doctor’s words and whether the file describes a physical injury as well. Do not decide that the harm is compensable.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/personal-injury-and-compensation/check-a-pure-mental-harm-claim-for-a-recognised-psychiatric-illness/united-states  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Personal Injury & Compensation (workers compensation, CTP/TAC, medical negligence)](https://ailawframework.com/practice/personal-injury-and-compensation.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | From the medical material the lawyer supplies, record the diagnosis in the doctor’s words and whether the file describes a physical injury as well. Do not decide that the harm is compensable. |
| What the lawyer must review | California Civil Code § 3333 awards the amount which will compensate for all the detriment proximately caused by breach of a non-contractual obligation, except where the Code expressly provides otherwise, whether the detriment could have been anticipated or not. The opened section does not require a recognised psychiatric illness and does not separate pure mental harm from other detriment. Section 1714(a) supplies the ordinary-care responsibility. You decide whether this harm is detriment proximately caused. Do not import Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) s 31. |
| Written for | United States |
| Applies to | [Check a pure mental harm claim for a recognised psychiatric illness](https://ailawframework.com/practice/personal-injury-and-compensation/check-a-pure-mental-harm-claim-for-a-recognised-psychiatric-illness.md) |

## Checking plan

- What the AI does: From the medical material the lawyer supplies, record the diagnosis in the doctor’s words and whether the file describes a physical injury as well. Do not decide that the harm is compensable.
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 22 October 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Notes

- A duty limit on a standalone emotional-distress claim is not in these two sections. Open the forum’s authority before you plead one.
- Use the diagnosis the doctor wrote. Do not let a generated label replace it.

## Sources

- [California Civil Code § 3333, measure of damages for breach of a non-contractual obligation](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=3333.) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [California Civil Code § 1714, responsibility for willful acts and for want of ordinary care](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1714.) (checked 2026-10-22)

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*