Forensic psychiatrists specialize in the interface between psychiatry and law.
After completing an adult psychiatry residency, forensic psychiatrists spend an additional year of training learning about the legal regulation of psychiatry and how psychiatry interacts with the criminal justice system. Very broadly, key topics of study are:
Patients' rights regarding mental health care
Issue of informed consent in mental health care
Issues of confidentiality in mental health care
Mental health needs and the criminal justice system
Forensic psychiatrists often work in courts, contributing to decisions on whether someone is competent to stand trial. They may also be asked to testify on how a person's mental health may have affected their behavior at the time of committing a crime. Forensic psychiatrists also often work in prisons or jails, providing psychiatric care as a member of the medical team. They may be either the primary physician or the consultant, depending on the needs of the patient. Forensic psychiatry subspecialty certification is provided via the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN).
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