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Humane Forensic Practice Serves Social Justice
Anna R Weissman1, Philip J Candilis2
1Dr. Weissman is Associate Director, Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Dr. Candilis is Interim Director of Medical Affairs, Saint Elizabeths Hospital, and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. anna.weissman@gmail.com.
The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
|December 30, 2018
Summary
Massachusetts
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Bioethics
- Mental Health Law
Background:
- The 1983 Rogers v. Commissioner decision reshaped forensic psychiatry ethics.
- Evolving ethical frameworks prioritize broader perspectives beyond strict legal roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the ethical basis for reforming involuntary treatment procedures in Massachusetts.
- To assess if current involuntary treatment systems uphold social justice by protecting vulnerable individuals.
Main Methods:
- Commentary and ethical analysis.
- Review of landmark legal decisions and academic literature on forensic psychiatry ethics.
- Exploration of systemic approaches integrating multiple ethical perspectives.
Main Results:
- Current involuntary treatment procedures in Massachusetts may not adequately protect vulnerable populations.
- The ethical foundation of forensic psychiatry has shifted towards integrating therapeutic and legal values.
Conclusions:
- Reforms in involuntary treatment are ethically necessary to ensure the protection of vulnerable individuals.
- Achieving social justice requires a system that actively safeguards those in need of involuntary treatment.
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