Psychiatrists in general practice are often required to engage with the legal system. For example, it is common for inpatient practitioners to petition the courts for treatment over objection, and testify in court, in support of the petition. Many in this position do not have specialized training in forensic psychiatry.
This course is designed to address what psychiatrists in general practice need to know in order to engage effectively with the legal system. Through case presentations, interactive roleplay sessions, and didactics, the participants will learn the core practical skill and knowledge needed to better interact with the courts in these matters. The topics addressed will include Treatment Over Objection, hospital retention, report writing and testifying in court.
At the end of this course the participants will acquire the skills required for effective forensic report writing, be better able to effectively testify in court, and achieve a better knowledge and understanding of the ways in which general psychiatric can intersect with the legal system.
The instructors include three board-certified forensic psychiatrists, one of whom is also an attorney with extensive legal experience. The instructors have a combined 26 years of experience in providing teaching and training for forensic psychiatry fellows and residents, have testified in court over 140 times and have written well over 650 forensic reports.
Please note, this course is intended to teach general practice psychiatrists who are not forensically trained. This course is not designed to teach general practitioners how to start a forensic private practice. However, this course may benefit those who are interested in considering specialized forensic psychiatry training in the future.
Learning Objectives
- Improve expertise in common psychiatric evaluations that lead to court involvement, including treatment over objection and hospital retention
- Understand the core fundamentals required to effectively write reports for court submission
- Better understand the proper role(s) and limitations, thereof, when psychiatrists interact with the legal system
Target Audience
Psychiatrists, residents, fellows, and medical students
Estimate Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 4 hours
Program Start Date: July 24th, 2023
Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in Q&A.
Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ may do so after completing all sections of the course including the evaluation. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the completion date and hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, the American Psychiatric Association is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
The APA designates this live activity for a maximum of 4 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Instructor
- George David Annas, MD, MPH, Forensic Psychiatry Consulting, LLC. Has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Tobias Wasser, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine. Has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Jennifer Piel, MD, JD, Associate Professor, University of Washington School of Medicine. Has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Planners
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- Catherine Crone, MD, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships of conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Tanuja Gandhi, MD, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
- John Luo, MD, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Sarah C. Noble, DO, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Nhi-Ha T. Trinh, MD, MPH, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Art C. Walaszek, MD, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Alicia A. Barnes, DO, MPH, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Hector Colon-Rivera, MD, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Amir Garakani, MD, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Lucy Ogbu-Nwobodo, MS, MS, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Jacqueline Posada, MD, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Karen B. Rosenbaum, MD, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Joseph Cullen Truett, DO, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
- David R. Beckert, MD, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Ronald Winchel, MD, 2023 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. Please contact the American Psychiatric Association at 202-559-3900, if you require assistance seven (7) business days prior to the start of a live webinar.
Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
- The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
- Internet Explorer 11+
This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
- Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
- Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
- Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact learningcenter@psych.org for technical assistance