Court Testimony for the Psychiatrist: Concepts, Skills, and Lessons from the Pandemic-View Presentation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The session focused on court testimony for psychiatrists, particularly in civil settings, not involving forensic aspects like competency to stand trial. Dr. Grover, Dr. Laurel, and Dr. Jotty highlighted various components crucial for psychiatrists providing testimony, covering the courtroom environment, confidentiality, privilege, and the necessity of preparation. Dr. Grover explained the nuanced nature of courtrooms dealing with civil commitment and right to refuse treatment, emphasizing that these are civil, not criminal proceedings, with variations in how states handle them. Dr. Laurel discussed the legal boundaries regarding confidentiality and privilege, incorporating key case laws that highlight risks and expectations of disclosure in court settings. Dr. Jotty focused on effective preparation, noting the importance of understanding jurisdiction-specific definitions, mastering technological tools for virtual courtrooms, and the significance of reviewing patient histories. She emphasized the need for psychiatrists to be educators in court, illustrating points clearly and concisely to the judge or jury. The educational session included video vignettes of mock testimony to highlight common pitfalls, such as forgetting key facts or mishandling adversarial questioning. Throughout, the importance of maintaining professionalism, ensuring documentation, and building a strong professional relationship with attorneys was emphasized to aid psychiatrists in delivering clear and credible court testimonies.

Keywords

court testimony

psychiatrists

civil settings

confidentiality

privilege

civil commitment

right to refuse treatment

preparation

jurisdiction-specific

mock testimony

professionalism

attorney relationships