Forensic Psychiatry is a branch of psychiatry where the medical and legal words overlap. This branch of Psychiatry involves the application of medical psychiatry expertise in legal context. Forensic Psychiatrist, practice in a multidisciplinary environment. They can practice in the healthcare setting with nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other medical specialists. Forensic Psychiatrists can be called to court to share their expertise for many reasons.
Moreover, Forensic Psychiatrists can also practice in a non-medical setting. Non-medical arenas include, but are not limited to: (Lawyers, Courts, Correctional Officers, and Parole Officers.) Their work environment is usually diverse. Hospitals, General Office Practice, Correctional Facilities, and Courts are a few environments Forensic Psychiatrists practice. In most cases, traditional hospital practice forms are a small component of the forensic psychiatric practice.
Furthermore, Forensic Psychiatry is comprised of three distinct overlapping areas that however, deal with many different issues. Such as; clinical criminology developmental delay Issues within the forensic mental health framework, impulse control disorders, interpersonal violence, major mental illness within the forensic framework (psychosis, schizophrenia, mood disorders, etc.), paraphilia's & sex offending, personality disorders with the forensic mental health framework, psychopathy, substance abuse within the forensic mental health framework, risk assessment and risk Management, and treatment programming within the forensic mental health framework.
However, Psychiatry and Law usually deals with the capacity: to consent to treatment, to manage property, to consent to emergency treatment, etc., treatment orders, consent - informed, consent to treatment, etc., consent and capacity board, confidentiality of patient records, duty of care, duty to warn, involuntary hospitalization, mental health act, in general, patient rights under the mental health act, and substitute decision making.
Where as, Forensic Psychiatry also deal with criminal areas such as; expert witness and testifying, dangerous or long term offender applications, fitness to stand trial, probation and parole review boards. Civil areas include: divorce and custody evaluations, negligence and malpractice, personal injury, workman's compensation boards, and workplace violence.
One way, a Psychiatrist would be called to court to share their expertise is in a missing persons case. The Casey Anthony trial is an example of a case where a Forensic Psychiatrist would be called upon to share their professional opinion. Another case example, would be when a mother applies for disability for a child the child is denied and the case is set to court. If necessary, the Psychiatrist would appear in court and recommend whether it is necessary or not for the child to receive disability services. However, there are many other cases in which a Forensic Psychiatrist may be called upon. In addition, their professionalism and expertise within Forensics has helped solve many cases.
(http://www.forensicpsychiatry.com)
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