'True crime' stories and psychiatrists' ethical responsibilities.

Australasian Psychiatry : Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Russ ScottIan Freckelton Qc

Abstract

In May 2018, a small paperback book was published, which briefly described 10 cases of persons charged with murder whom an Australian psychiatrist had assessed for the court. This article considers the ethical issues raised by identifying both the persons charged with murder and their victims in newspaper articles and interviews to promote a book. When persons who have committed homicide are named in a 'true crime' book, their recovery trajectory may be prejudiced and the families of their victims may be re-traumatised. Such publications may also contribute to the stigmatisation of persons with mental illness who commit serious offences. Respect for the dignity of the person is fundamental to the ethical practice of forensic report-writing. There can never be any implied agreement or consent that a psychiatrist who writes a report for the court can also use the material in a book written for profit. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Code of Ethics includes several principles relevant to psychiatrists who write medico-legal reports. Psychiatrists should carefully consider the ethical issues raised in publishing outside of textbooks and professional journals and engaging with the lay media.

References

Feb 6, 2008·The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry·Michael D Robertson, Garry Walter
May 24, 2011·Academic Psychiatry : the Journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry·Glen O GabbardGonzalo Perez-Garcia
Feb 6, 2014·World Psychiatry : Official Journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA)·Paul S Appelbaum, Andrew Kopelman
Dec 15, 2015·Australasian Psychiatry : Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·Michael RobertsonSidney Bloch
Aug 11, 2018·Academic Psychiatry : the Journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry·Nathaniel P Morris

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