Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T10:10:57.167Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The dilemma of the forensic psychiatrist

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Gwen Adshead  and
Jeanette Smith
Gwen Adshead
Affiliation:
Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF
Jeanette Smith
Affiliation:
Fromeside Clinic, Blackberry Hill, Bristol BS16 1ED
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Forensic psychiatrists have particular ethical duties in relation to the protection of the public, which few other doctors have. Part of the fulfillment of that duty is the assessment of risk, upon which many ethical decisions rest. But comprehensive risk assessment may require information which is not available, leaving the forensic psychiatrist in a dilemma between her duty to the patient and to the public. This case history is based on a real case.

Type
Original papers
Information
Psychiatric Bulletin , Volume 18 , Issue 6 , June 1994 , pp. 333 - 335
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1994

References

Brittain, R. (1970) The sadistic murderer. Medicine, Science and the Law, 10, 198–207.Google Scholar
Monaghan, J. (1992) Mental disorder and violent behaviour. American Psychologist, 47, 511–521.Google Scholar
Monaghan, J. (1993) Limiting therapist exposure to Tarasoff liability. American Psychologist, 48, 242–250.Google Scholar
Scott, P. (1977) Assessing dangerousness in criminals. British Journal of Psychiatry, 131, 127–142.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.