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Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychiatry

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Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology in Europe
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Abstract

Forensic psychiatrists have the duty to provide appropriate care to mentally disordered offenders or prisoners, i.e., care comparable to those provided in regular psychiatric facilities. The psychiatrist can never disclose information of a competent patient without his consent, but exceptionally it may be necessary to protect third parties. The psychiatrist expert witness in court serves the best interest of the legal system and must inform the examinee that the confidentiality rule is not applicable in this context. Reduce as much as possible the need for coercive interventions or treatments in psychiatry.

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Cosyns, P. (2018). Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychiatry. In: Goethals, K. (eds) Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology in Europe. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74664-7_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74664-7_20

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-74662-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-74664-7

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