Forensic and medical legal issues in addiction psychiatry

There is a broad range of forensic issues in addiction psychiatry. For many psychiatrists, what is most challenging about addressing these issues is their origin in the law, which is a system and a way of thinking that may feel foreign to the medical practitioner. To address forensic issues, addiction psychiatrists should learn and understand the specific legal questions that arise in each forensic context. They should become familiar with the relevant definitions, criteria, and legal requirements that apply in each specific area of their practice, rather than assume that clinical definitions and reasoning will carry them. If they perform forensic evaluations, addiction psychiatrists must distance themselves from the wish to help the examinee, focusing on the role of neutral examiner. Comfort and effectiveness with forensic issues require familiarity with, knowledge of, and ultimately respect for the forensic contexts of addiction psychiatric practice.