Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE:explores the differences in story based on point of view. Both clinical and forensic psychiatrists must consider point of view when hearing narratives from patients or defendants. CONCLUSION:provides an excellent contemporary example through which to explore the Rashomon effect in conceptualization of eyewitness testimony and reliability of reporting.

The United States is in the company of only 22 other countries with the death penalty. The American Medical Association is among many medical professional organizations that prohibit the participation of physicians in the physical act of execution. Despite these clear guidelines, debate remains regarding physician involvement in various aspects of death penalty cases. This article outlines different positions that physicians and specifically forensic psychiatrists have taken on this issue. Our position is that given the overwhelming secondary duty related to their physician role-specifically to do no harmforensic psychiatrists should not use their expertise if they believe their involvement will be used for the primary purpose of obtaining a death penalty. Of necessity, forensic evaluations can do harm. But when something as extreme as death is concerned, the secondary medical duties preclude directly facilitating a person's death.