The Roles of Behavioral Health Professionals in Class Action Litigation
M. A. Hoge, J. K. Tebes, L. Davidson and E. E. H. Griffith,
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
30(1): 49-58, 2002.
Class action suits frequently have been used as a strategy for improving the quality
of mental health care. Psychiatrists, psychologists, and professionals from related disciplines have
been involved in these suits in different roles. This article presents and discusses case examples of
these roles, which include the expert witness, court-appointed expert, consulting expert, monitor,
special master, receiver, advocate, amicus curiae, plaintiff, and defendant. The authors caution
against assuming dual roles and argue that professionals, before beginning to participate in this
complex arena, should clarify their functional responsibilities, the legal basis of their involvement, and
the ethics principles that will guide their actions.