Objective and Method: This article examines some of the ethical and legal issues which confront the psychiatrist who is asked to provide a forensic psychiatric assessment. Theory is explained and illustrated by way of a case study.
Results: Recent cases demonstrate a tendency by some psychiatrists to adopt an advocacy role in legal proceedings, to the potential disadvantage of not only those involved in the proceedings, but also to the wider community.
Conclusion: Ideally, there is a need for a greater collaborative effort between the College's Ethics Committee and this Country's Courts and Law Societies to establish and monitor an ethical framework in the area of expert psychiatric evidence.
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.Code of ethics. 1st ed.Melbourne: RANZCP, 1992.
2.
PlueckhahnVCordnerS.Ethics, legal medicine and forensic pathology. 2nd ed.Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1991.
3.
SheaP.Psychiatry in court. Institute of Criminology Monograph Series No. 3. Sydney: Sydney University Law School, 1991.
4.
BartholomewAAPsychiatry, the criminal law and corrections: an exercise in sciolism. Bundalong: Wilmer Publications, 1986.
5.
ChaplowDPetersJKyddR.The expert witness in forensic psychiatry. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry1992; 26:624–630.
6.
BluglassR.The psychiatrist as an expert witness. In: BluglassRBowdenP, eds. Principles and practice of forensic psychiatry. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1990.
7.
StoneA.The ethics of forensic psychiatry: a view from the ivory tower. In: Law, psychiatry, and morality: essays and analysis. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, 1984:57–73.
8.
Donoghue v Stephenson, 1932 AC 562 at 580.
9.
Anns v Merton LBC, 1978 AC 728 at 751–752.
10.
Rogers v Whitaker1992, 67 ALJR 82.
11.
Bolam v Friern Hospital Management Committee, 1957 1 WLR 582.
12.
Sidaway v Governors of Bethlem Hospital, 1985 AC 871.
13.
F v R1983, 3 SASR 181.
14.
Lowns and Anor v Woods and Ors1996, Aust Torts Reports 81–376 at 63, 120.
15.
Curtin v Holliday and Ors1996, unpublished judgement of the Supreme Court of NSW, Common Law Division, No. 20417.
16.
Breen v Williams1996, 70 ALJR 772.
17.
Hillman v Black and Ors1996, unpublished judgement of the Full Court of the Supreme Court of SA, No. S5941.1.
18.
BudaiP.Mandatory reporting of child abuse: is it in the best interests of the child?Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry1996; 30:794–804.
19.
Wilcox-BaileyJ.Imaginary molestations. The Adelaide Review, November 1996:14–15.
Peisley v R1990, 54 Australian Criminal Reports 42.
22.
FreckletonI.Judicial pedagogy and expert evidence on victims’ responses to trauma. Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law1997; 4:1:79–86.
23.
Williams v Crimes Compensation Tribunal1994, unreported Victorian AAT, No. 93/020437.
24.
MendelsonG.Special review of DSM-IV. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry1995; 29:529–535.
25.
FreckletonI.Cross Examination. Australian Lawyer1996; 31:20–23.
26.
MendlesonG.The scope and limitations of psychiatric expert testimony. Australian Forensic Psychiatry Bulletin1990; 10:11.
27.
CurrenWJHygSMMcGarryALThe psychiatrist as expert witness. In: CurrenWJMcGarryALShahSA, eds. Forensic psychiatry and psychology: perspectives and standards for interdisciplinary practice. Philadelphia: FA Davis1986.
28.
KrebsWA, ed. Pocket Oxford dictionary of current English. 5th ed.Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1969.
29.
1963 SR (NSW) at page 963.
30.
StanleyR.The psychiatrist as expert witness: a legal perspective. Australian Forensic Psychiatry Bulletin1989; 9:4.
31.
GlascottK.Child psychiatrist: ‘I lied to MPs’. The Australian, 30 October 1996.
32.
BoycePMasonC.An overview of depression-prone personality traits and the role of interpersonal sensitivity. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry1996; 30:90–103.
33.
Jaensch v Coffey, 1984 155 CLR 549.
34.
EllardJ.Personality disorder or the snark still at large. Australasian Psychiatry1996; 4:58–64.
35.
South Australia. Medical Practitioners Act.
36.
PargiterRBlochS.The ethics of a psychiatric college: its procedures and themes. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry1997; 31:76–82.
37.
HarrisT.Plan to change role of expert witnesses. The Australian, 17 January 1997.
