Psychiatr. praxi 2019; 20(2): 92-95
Issuing of medical reports on inability to participate in criminal proceedings
- Psychiatrická nemocnice Bohnice
Psychiatrists often issue a certificate on the inability to participate in criminal proceedings at the request of patients (or their lawyers), typically without having any knowledge of their patient’s criminal activity. The aim of this article is to aid psychiatrists in understanding that they are sometimes manipulated to issue such certificates. It is not a therapist’s duty to issue reports in criminal proceedings; conversely, to issue a grossly misleading medical report for criminal proceedings is a crime. In psychiatric terms: those deemed unable to participate in actions in criminal proceedings are the ones not understanding their meaning due to mental disorder. This can include dementia, more profound mental retardation, and acute psychosis. Let us not issue a certificate on the inability to participate in criminal proceedings for any other reasons. Naturally, criminal prosecution causes mental issues (adjustment disorder); from a professional viewpoint, however, these are not reasons for apologies but, on the contrary, for an accelerated completion of criminal proceedings. The author aims to change the judicial practice wherein a psychiatrist apology letter is a reliable tool for the defence to protract criminal proceedings. The article also deals with the inappropriateness of excusing the injured party (victim) from participation in criminal proceedings, since they usually will not avoid it; nevertheless, they can exercise many of their rights which psychiatrists are introduced to in this article. The article is supplemented by two case reports from the author’s expert practice.
Keywords: criminal proceedings, in/ability to understand criminal proceedings, medical certificate, victims of crime
Published: June 1, 2019 Show citation
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