Once upon a time only forensic psychiatrists had much to do with law and the legal system. Now, hardly a day passes in the life of a clinician without some significant encounter with the interface between the law and the practice of psychiatry. That interface extends all the way from the general regulation of clinical practice to the specifics of clinical man agement of individual patients. It includes, like the chapters of this book, such important topics as informed consent, right to treatment, privilege and confidentiality, patients' rights, competency, psychiatric testimony, malpractice, and liability. Dr. Halleck is one of the professions' most distinguished thinkers and authors in the field of psychiatry and law, and is this year's recipient of the coveted Isaac Ray Award of the American Psychiatric Association. Having spent his entire academic and professional life deeply involved in the clinical practice of psychiatry, he is particularly well suited to understand and respond to the clinician's need for a clear and concise elucidation of those areas of psychiatry and law which are involved in the daily work of psychiatrists and all mental health professionals.

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Introduction: Psychiatry and LawGeneral Issues.- I Malpractice.- 1 Medical Malpractice Law and the Psychiatrist.- 2 Intentional Torts in Psychiatric Practice.- 3 The Theory of Negligent Malpractice.- 4 Malpractice Issues Arising during Initial Contacts with the Psychiatric Patient.- 5 The Psychiatrist's Liability for Negligent Diagnosis.- 6 The Psychiatrist's Liability for Negligence in the Process of Consent and Treatment.- II The Regulation of Psychiatric Practice by Legislative Bodies and the Courts.- 7 Civil Commitment.- 8 The Rights of the Mentally Disabled.- 9 Confidentiality in Psychiatric Practice.- III Expert Witness Roles.- 10 General Issues Regarding Psychiatric Testimony.- 11 The Psychiatric Witness and the Insanity Defense.- 12 Competency to Stand Trial.- 13 Child Custody.- 14 The Psychiatrist's Role in Evaluating Psychic Injury.- 15 Miscellaneous Expert Witness Roles in the Civil Courts.- 16 Teaching Psychiatric Residents about Legal Issues.