The psychoanalyst is very vulnerable to the ups and downs of economic fluctuations, since he can have only ten patients in treatment. Another threat is that malpractice claims, which so bedevil medical practice in the U.S.A., could easily be extended to psychoanalytic practice. Court cases would be even more likely to be won by plaintiffs because the analyst's professional ethics would prevent him from revealing anything about the patient. Some of the ways in which suits against analysts might go are suggested, and possible methods of protection are discussed.