A forensic psychiatrist is a physician who provides expert testimony in legal cases involving mental health and mental health issues. While many people associate the term “forensic” with pathologists, the term is more broadly used to describe the application of science to legal issues. Forensic psychiatrists differ from forensic psychologists in several ways. Despite the fact that they both deal with mental health issues and the legal system, their levels of training and approaches to their cases are vastly different.
To become a forensic psychiatrist, one must first complete medical school and then choose to do a residency in psychiatry. During the residency, the student learns about mental illness and the various treatment options while also qualifying as a doctor who can provide psychiatric assistance to patients. Forensic psychiatry necessitates additional training in issues specific to this branch of the psychiatric field.
Despite the fact that a forensic psychiatrist is not a lawyer, he or she may be familiar with many aspects of the legal system in order to work more efficiently. Forensic psychiatrists can be called in for a variety of reasons in a legal case. They frequently participate in competency hearings to determine whether or not a person is mentally capable of standing trial and to assess a person’s mental state at the time of a crime.
A forensic psychiatrist may also conduct an evaluation of a victim or defendant in order to gather evidence that can be used in court. For example, a minor seeking emancipation may request a forensic psychiatrist’s examination to demonstrate that he or she is capable of living as an adult, or the parents of a child accused of murdering a classmate may request that the child be evaluated a psychiatrist to determine whether mental health played a role in the crime. A forensic psychiatrist’s work may also include treatment recommendations, such as sentencing, parole, or probation recommendations.
An “expert witness” has no precise legal definition. Individuals who are highly skilled in their field and competent on the witness stand are generally referred to as “experts.” Forensic psychiatrists can work for the defense or the prosecution, and they can recommend that a mentally incompetent criminal be institutionalized to assisting a victim suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
It is not uncommon for a forensic psychiatrist to maintain a clinical practice in addition to working for the legal system. This keeps his or her mental health skills sharp, and it can provide a research ground for the psychiatrist, making him or her more appealing as a potential witness or consultant.