Law and Mental Health Professionals: The Limits of Expertise

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1978

Abstract

Explores the structure and assumptions of mental health law to elucidate the proper role of mental health professionals when they provide information to the legal system. Most of the questions asked of professionals by law are argued to be primarily social, moral, and legal rather than scientific. It is claimed that in light of present knowledge, experts have less to offer to the law than is commonly supposed. They can, however, make a limited, reasonable contribution to legal decision making by providing scientific information that is not otherwise available to the law. (37 ref) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Publication Title

Professional Psychology

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.9.3.389

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