Legal issues and expertise in forensic psychiatry
Psychiatrists, alongside other medical experts, have a role in applying clinical and scientific expertise in legal contexts. The courts use expert evidence when dealing with matters outside the knowledge of the layperson, in particular the judge and jury. Forensic psychiatry training has a particula...
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| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
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2024
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| In: |
Seminars in forensic psychiatry
Year: 2024, Pages: 119-140 |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Summary: | Psychiatrists, alongside other medical experts, have a role in applying clinical and scientific expertise in legal contexts. The courts use expert evidence when dealing with matters outside the knowledge of the layperson, in particular the judge and jury. Forensic psychiatry training has a particular focus on the care and treatment of offenders with mental disorder. Forensic psychiatry practitioners are expected to have not only specialised knowledge of mental disorder but also detailed knowledge of the relevant legal issues and justice systems. It is crucial that psychiatrists acting as expert witnesses understand the nature of the legal issues in order to function competently at court. This chapter outlines the role of the psychiatrist as an expert witness and summarises legal issues on which forensic psychiatrists are asked to comment in criminal settings, namely fitness to plead, mental health defences and sentencing. |
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| Item Description: | Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 139-140 |
| ISBN: | 9781911623816 |
