Alcohol: the clinician's role in evaluating legal responsibility

Alcohol-related misconduct poses a challenge for society, the legal system, and the medical profession. The debate is centered on alcohol abuse and the determination of responsibility for misbehavior. In assessing responsibility, the legal system often requests the expertise of the medical professional. The knowledgeable clinician can contribute to the just resolution of complex medico-legal cases. The best contribution considers medical facts in relation to the evolution of legal thinking. This article explores the historical, social, and legal approaches to alcohol-related misconduct. The article concludes with a discussion of a model clinical assessment.