On the roots of modern forensic psychiatry: ethics ramifications

The historical origin of modern forensic psychiatry, as well as the circumstances of its evolution, may be defined and described from several vantage points. In this article I present a critical reading of Richard J. Bonnie's article, published in the Journal, in which he assigned the budding of modern forensic psychiatry to the 20th century. Although I concur with Bonnie's historical analysis, as well as with his underlying moral approach, I suggest that, to attain a broader view of the contribution of forensic psychiatry, it is important to be open to additional narratives of its development. The supplemental narrative that I offer highlights values other than those that were highlighted by Bonnie that are deeply rooted and equally inherent in the practice of forensic psychiatry. Thus, awareness of the two complementary narratives enables a stereoscopic view that encompasses the full picture regarding the roots of forensic psychiatry.