Opinions by AAPL forensic psychiatrists on controversial ethical guidelines: a survey [published erratum appears in Bull Am Acad Psychiatry Law 1991;19(4):393]. R. Weinstock, G. B. Leong, J. A. Silva and G. B. Leong

Opinions by AAPL forensic psychiatrists on controversial ethical guidelines: a survey [published erratum appears in Bull Am Acad Psychiatry Law 1991;19(4):393].

R. Weinstock, G. B. Leong, J. A. Silva and G. B. Leong,
Bull. Amer. Acad. Psychiatry & the Law 19(3): 237-48, 1991.

A survey was conducted of a sample of AAPL members to determine their opinions on the inclusion of controversial ethical guidelines for forensic psychiatry. Members appear to appreciate the need to consider traditional Hippocratic values as at least one consideration in their functioning as forensic psychiatrists. They appear to balance their duties to an evaluee with duties to society and the legal system and to appreciate the responsibilities of multiple agency. Support was shown for interpreting ambiguities in AAPL's current guidelines in the directions indicated by most of this survey's proposed guidelines.